SW.6>0 



/ 



THE 



YANKEE CONSCRIPT; 



OR, 



EIGHTEEN MONTHS IN DIXIE. 



BY GEORGE ADAMS FISHER. 



WITH AN INTRODUCTION 

BY REV. WILLIAM DICKSON. 



PHILADELPHIA: 
J. W. DAUGHADAY, PUBLISHER, 

1308 CHESTNUT STREET. 
1864. 



Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1864, by 

J. W. DAUGHADAY, 

in the Clerk's Office of the District Court in and for the 
Eastern District of Pennsylvania. 



r 



t 



PREFACE. 



My design in presenting the following narrative is 
to give to the public a brief, plain, and unpretend- 
ing account of what I know respecting the treat- 
ment which Union men receive from the hands of 
the Secessionists ; the sentiments and feelings of 
the soldiers of the Confederate States respecting 
the war ; and my own escape after having been con- 
scripted and forced into the ranks of the Rebel army. 
I shall narrate facts simply. I shall tell the reader 
how I was first foiled in my attempt to escape to 
the lines of the Union army, how, after some 
weeks, I obtained possession of a miller's certifi- 
cate of exemption, and traveled upwards of two 
hundred and forty miles on it ; how I was taken, 
put under arrest, and guarded all night by six pro- 
vost guards, tried, and in great danger of being 
recognized as a deserter and shot. I shall give 
some account of my subsequent adventures in the 
army of General Raines, of my escape and safe 
arrival, after enduring many hardships, within the 
lines of the army of General Schofield. 

For some time I hesitated to write the following 



4 PREFACE. 

pages, for the reason that being a citizen of Texas, 
and intending to return to that State after the war, 
1 feared the consequences which might result from 
publishing this narrative. But being frequently 
and earnestly solicited to write, I finally determined 
to do so. 

Some apology is due for the style of the book. 
Being engaged in teaching school during the time 
that I was preparing the following pages for pub- 
lication, I did most of my writing in the evening, 
amidst the annoyance of family reading and con- 
versation. Sometimes I became so discouraged in 
the preparation of my story, which was to me an 
arduous undertaking, that I would probably have 
abandoned my task, had it not been for the hope 
that it might be the means of convincing some 
honest men who are led astray by designing and 
unprincipled politicians, who claim to be " Consti- 
tutional Union'* men, but who do more to baffle the 
Government and encourage the rebels than any 
other class. 

These remarks are not made to deprecate criti- 
cism, but in order to bespeak the candor of that 
large class of readers who are willing to be pleased 
with the best efforts that can reasonably be expect- 
ed from one who has labored under so many diffi- 
culties. 

GEORGE A. FISHER. 

Calcutta, Ohio, May, 1864. 



CONTENTS. 



INTRODUCTION. 

The Author's Birth— Parentage— Pious Mother— Educa- 
tion— The Book Needed— State of Society in the South 
— Truthfulness of the Narrative— The Author's Mode- 
ration. 11 — 17 

CHAPTER I. 

Leave Home— The Lost Brother — A Strange Letter — The 
Journey — Arrive in Texas — Return to St. Louis — Winter 
in Illinois — The Beauties of Slavery — Return to Texas — 
Traveling Companions— Buying Stock — Annoyances — 
Stampede — Sickness — Lost Brother Found — Married — 
Trading — An Incident — Texan Society — Four Classes — 
Prejudices — A Surprise. - 19—30 

CHAPTER II. 

Great Excitement — Southern Stump Speakers — Wigfall — 
A Journey — Curing Buffalo Meat — An Incident— House 
Burning — Abolitionism — Preparation for Rebellion — 
Prairie Matches — John Smith and Bill Jones— Tortures 
— Lynching — Correspondence with Friends Dangerous — 
The Day-Book— Voting — Election of Lincoln — Speeches 
again — Families Leaving the State — Preparing for War 
— Trading Lands — Drafting — Impressments. 31 — 52 



CONTENTS, 



CHAPTER III. 

New Excitements — Raiding — Bereavements— Change of 
Location — Mob Law again — Movements of Troops — Con- 
script Law Passed — Opposition to the Law — A Union 
Man and his Mode of Reasoning— Other Unionists of * 
Note — Droving — Fright of the Rebels at Little Rock — 
Sickness in the Rebel Army. ... 53 — 75 



CHAPTER IV. 

Martial Law in Arkansas — Hunting Conscripts with Blood- 
hounds — Arrival of Troops from Texas — Buying Leather 
— Major Lewis and his Negro Wife — Southern Slanders 
of Northern Women — Amalgamation — Jim Lane — Sus- 
picious Characters — Return to Texas — Martial Law in 
Texas — Passes — Plans of Union Men to Escape — Oath 
of Allegiance — In a Trap, and how to get out of it. 

76—89 



CHAPTER Y. 

Still in the Trap— Captain Schneider — Captain Wells — 
Conscripts vs Volunteers — Captain Welch — Marching — 
Dallas Fair Grounds — Arrest of a Volunteer — Prejudice 
against Foreigners — Camanche and Texan Feats of 
Horsemanship— Preference for the Cavalry Service. 

90—107 



CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER VI. 

Volunteering at the Beginning of the War — More Call* 
for Men and less Inclination to Respond — Plans to Pre- 
vent an Outbreak in Texas — Filling Requisitions for 
Men — Speeches to Encourage the Conscripts — Guard- 
ing against Mutiny — Rebel Destitution — Negroes — Their 
Sentiments— Their Number. - 108—119 



CHAPTER VII. 

Plans of Escape — Dangers of the Attempt — Send for my 
Brother — Miller's Certificate of Exemption — Feign Sick- 
ness — Interview with Captain Schneider — Obtain a Fur- 
lough — Set out for Denton — The Journey — Meet my 
Brother again — Sell the Remainder of my Property — 
Troubles and Dangers of Enrolling Officers — Speculation 
— Letter to Captain Schneider — Reflections — Discussion 
about the Miller's Certificate — Schemes to obtain Pos- 
session of Luginbyhl's Certificate — My Brother's Ad- 
venture. 120—136 



CHAPTER VIII. 

A Race and a Hunt — Guarding against a Surprise — The 
Miller's Certificate Secured — Farewell — The Journey 
Begun — Value of Liberty known when Lost — Date of 
Furlough changed — Final Parting — A Lonely Pilgrim — 
Acting Rebel — Tricks of Negroes — A Hunter's Paradise 
— A big Corn Crop — Farewell to Texas. - 137 — 151 



CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER IX. 

Travels and Adventures in the Indian Country — Precau- 
tions against Discovery — In Arkansas — Apples, Peaches 
and Company — Close Questioning — Seeking for Infor- 
mation — -Dress — Anxiety — A Missouri Rebel — A Letter 
— Clay Eaters — Difficulty in Crossing the River — Over 
the River — In a Net — Unwelcome Visitors — Arrested. 

152—169 



CHAPTER X. 

Making the Best of it — News of the Fugitives from Fan- 
nin County — Guards make Arrangements for Sleep — 
Precautions against Detection — A Curious Quid — Before 
the Provost Marshal — His Decision — Further Question- 
ing — Another Prisoner — Familiar Conversation with the 
Provost Marshal — Reversal of the Marshal's Decision — 
Sent to Colonel Bass — A Joke — Close Questioning — 
Again a Conscript. ----- 170 — 188 



CHAPTER XL 

More Inquisitors — A Battle in Progress — A Forced March 
— Camping for the Night — Glee of the Troops — A New 
Name Troublesome — Incidents of the March — Prisoners 
—Execution of Deserters — Ordered to Keetsville — Old 
Camps — An Alarm and a Scare — Retreat to Frogg's 
Bayou — Sent out on Picket — At the Mill — Gathering 
Corn— The Drove of Hogs— Escape. - - 189—207 



CONTENTS, 



CHAPTER XII. 

My Horse left behind — Celerity of Movements — Precau- 
tions against Surprise — A Hard Road to Travel — A 
Friendly Tree — A Comfortless Rest — Lost — An Alarm — ■ 
Tight Boots .in the Wrong Place — Still Bewildered — A 
Stranger — A Dreary Night — The Wrong Way seems the 
Right Way — A Narrow Escape — Close to a whole Regi- 
ment of Rehels — A Bed in a Thicket — Lost Watch — A 
Talk with Rebel Women — Union Men — How I Lived on 
the Way. 208—226 



CHAPTER XIII. 

Fireside Conversation — Bushwhacking — Mr. Ray — A Tem- 
porary Cripple — Meet the Union Soldiers — A Contrast — 
Cassville — Report to General Schofield — Prisoners — 
Questions and Answers — A Letter — Under Guard — Pa- 
roled — Find my Watch — Visit a Secessionist — Mail Car- 
rier Shot. 227—239 



CHAPTER XIV. 

Prisoners — Brewer Shot — Threats — Obstinacy — Rough 
Usage — Dirt — Underground Telegraph — Offer of a Posi- 
tion as a Recruiting Officer — History of Colonel Bass — 
Leave Cassville and go to Springfield— More Texan 
Refugees — Their Story — Wholesale Hanging — Extract 
from the Houston Telegraph — Springfield — Homeward 
Bound— Home. 240—251 







&^>. u^f S^/i^u^i/ 



INTRODUCTION 



The Author's Birth— -His Parentage— Pious Mother—His 
Education— The Book Needed— State of Society in the 
South — Truthfulness of the Narrative— The Author's Mod- 
eration. 

George Adams Fisher, the writer of the 
following pages, was born on the 10th of July, 
1835, near Calcutta, Columbiana county, Ohio. 
He was next to the youngest of a large family. 
His father, Paul Fisher, was the son of Mr. 
Paul Fisher, who emigrated from Northumber- 
land county, Pennsylvania, at an early day, 
and settled near Calcutta, Ohio. He purchased 
land in the vicinity, and for many years kept a 
house of public entertainment. He raised a 
family of seven sons and four daughters. His 
son Paul was about fifteen years of age at the 
time of their removal to Ohio, which took place 
in 1810. In a few years Paul bought land in 



12 INTRODUCTION. 

the vicinity of Calcutta, and some time after- 
wards lie married Miss Margaret Souder. He 
is still living near Calcutta. George's mother 
died when he was about nine years of age. 
She was an eminently pious woman. Mr. 
Fisher was not a pious man at the time of 
their marriage. After a mental struggle which 
for some time almost banished rest and sleep, 
Mrs. Fisher resolved to attend to the duty of 
family worship herself, and for many years 
nothing except sickness was allowed to inter- 
fere with tbe regular discharge of this solemn 
duty. For twenty years she was an active 
member of a female prayer-meeting. She was 
abundant in good works. Her heart and her 
hand were always open to relieve the wants of 
the poor. She went about doing good, and, 
remembering the command of the Savior she 
loved, she let her light shine. 

She was a woman of strong faith. On her 
death-bed she called her children around her, 
and solemnly commended them to the care of a 
faithful God, and then departed in the triumphs 
of an overcoming faith. Being dead, she yet 



INTRODUCTION. 13 

speaketh. Her prayers liave been heard. Her 
husband is an humble, consistent follower of 
Christ ; some, at least, of her children are in 
the Redeemer's fold. Who can doubt that her 
fervent supplications will be answered, and that 
all her children will meet her in heaven ? 

Some time after his wife's death, Mr. Fisher 
married again. By this marriage he had two 
children. His second wife lived but a few 
years. Some time after her death he was again 
married, and has been living with his third 
wife for the last fifteen years. Mr. Fisher 
trained his children to habits of industry and 
activity. Though not among those who are 
possessed of great wealth, he is in very com- 
fortable circumstances, and has done well for 
his children. He assisted all of them as they 
set out in life, and has already divided ten 
thousand dollars among them. 

George, being for some years rather delicate, 
was sent to school, and acquired a good Eng- 
lish education. He began to teach school at 
the age of eighteen, and continued at that use- 
ful and pleasant employment, winter and sum- 



14 INTRODUCTION. 

mer, until he left home for Texas. The reader 
of the following pages will not fail to discover 
that he is of an enterprising character, and that 
he is possessed of a degree of energy which is 
not discouraged by common difficulties. 

The writer feels confident that this book is 
needed, and that a knowledge of its contents 
will do good. It reveals a terrible condition of 
society in the South. Life, liberty, and the 
pursuit of happiness are the inalienable rights 
of all men ; and yet in one-third of these free 
United States these self-evident principles are 
scouted as the corrupt spawn of blind fanati- 
cism. The truth is, the people of the South 
have never enjoyed liberty. They hardly know 
what it is. Slavery has bound its chains, not 
on the unfortunate negro race alone, but on 
four-fifths of the white population. They are 
not, it is true, bought and sold in the market ; 
they are not driven under the whip of the 
overseer to the cotton and rice fields ; but they 
are slaves nevertheless. Many of them are 
profoundly ignorant; and all the non-slave- 
holding class under the heel of an imperious 



INTRODUCTION. 15 

and oppressive oligarchy. This is not liberty, 
it is slavery. It is as impossible for liberty 
and slavery to exist together as light and dark- 
ness. They are mutually repellent. This an- 
tagonism accounts for all the intolerance and 
fanaticism which has taken hold of the minds 
of Southern slaveholders. Slavery became 
their god. They worshipped the grim mon- 
ster in blind adoration. Slavery established 
its throne in the South and issued its decrees. 
These mandates of the tyrant were — Shoot, 
hang, burn, stab, torture, persecute, proscribe, 
banish the adherents of liberty wherever found. 
"Well were they executed. Men could hardly 
think without danger ; and to speak or write 
anything adverse to received Southern ortho- 
doxy, was to invite the bowie-knife, the bullet, 
or the halter. The fairest and richest portions 
of our fair land were given over to a reign of 
terror hardly equaled in the history of the 
world. The truth of these remarks will appear 
from the following pages. 

The more we know of the real state of things 
in the South, the stronger will be our attach- 



16 INTRODUCTION. 

ment to the principles of liberty, the purer will 
be our patriotism, and the deeper our hatred of 
treason. Feeling convinced of this, the writer 
of this article is rejoiced that another narrative 
is added to the numerous testimonies that have 
already been given to the public in proof of 
the barbarism of the South. They who have 
read "The Iron Furnace," " Daring and Suffer- 
ing," " Beyond the Lines," and other works of 
a similar character, will only be the more 
anxious to peruse this volume. It corroborates 
their testimony, and is full of matter equally 
interesting, while it is entirely different from all 
of them. It is the production of a man who 
was for years a citizen of the South, and who, 
is, therefore, qualified to speak from personal 
knowledge and observation — an advantage not 
possessed by those who were temporary and 
unwilling sojourners in Dixie. 

The writer of this article has had an oppor- 
tunity of perusing a large number of letters 
and other documents, which establish the truth 
of this narrative beyond question ; and even if 
these were wanting, the high moral and Chris- 



INTRODUCTION. 17 

tian character of the author is a sufficient gua- 
ranty for the truthfulness of his statements. 

There is one peculiar excellency of this little 
volume which deserves particular commenda- 
tion. The reader will not long remain in doubt 
as to the author's political preferences; but 
men of all political persuasions can read the 
book without offence. It does not deal in hard 
names and slang phrases. It aims to convince 
men by facts, and not by abuse, on the princi- 
ple that 

" A man convinced against his will, 
Is of the same opinion still." 

The book is heartily recommended to the 
public as one that is well calculated to foster 
the love of liberty, cherish patriotism, inspire 
thankfulness to God for the freedom which we 
enjoy, and expose in all the deformity of its 
ugly nature that system of oppression which 
has been the fruitful source of all the calamities 
which have fallen upon our beloved land. 



2 



THE 



YANKEE CONSCRIPT. 



CHAPTER I. 

"Leave ITo?ne—Tfi/> Lost Brother—A Strange. Letter — Tlie Jour~ 
ney — Arrive* in Texan — Return to St. Louis — Winter in 
Illinois — The Beauties of Slavery— Return to Texas- 
Traveling Companions — Buying Stock— Annoyances — A 
Stampede — Sickness — Lost Brother Found — Married- 
Trading— An Incident— Texan Society— Four Classes— 
JPrejud ices— A Surprise. 

On the 14th of April, 1857, an elder brother 
and myself left the home of our boyhood to 
seek our fortunes in the sunny South. Another 
brother had gone to the South some years be- 
fore, but for a long time we had not heard from 
him. At length, in November, 1856, a young 
man by the name of John Wollam, who had 
gone South with him, and had, for some time, 
been in partnership with him, received a letter 
purporting to come from Major J. Jones, mak- 
ing particular inquiry concerning ■ Fisher. 

(19) 



20 THE YANKEE CONSCRIPT; OR, 

Jones had been a partner with them in Missis- 
sippi. From the tone and appearance of the 
letter, which I was permitted to read, I suspected 
that it was written by my brother, although the 
handwriting was well counterfeited. We deter- 
mined to proceed to the place in which this letter 
purported to have been written. We went by 
the river, taking passage in the steamer " South 
America," which was thronged with passengers 
going to all parts of the West, the destination 
of most being Missouri, Kansas, and Iowa. 

We reached St. Louis on the 23d of April. 
On the 27th, we again took passage on the 
" Thomas Swan," and arrived at Hannibal on 
the following day. On the morning of the 29th, 
we set out from Hannibal on our journey to 
Texas, passing through the capitals of the fol- 
lowing counties : Marion, Monroe, Randolph, 
Howard, Cooper, Moniteau, Morgan, Benton, 
St. Clair, Bates, Yernon, Barton, Jasper, and 
Newton. Thence we passed to Tahlequah, the 
capital of the Cherokee nation ; and thence 
through the Creek, Choctaw, and Chickasaw 
country, until we arrived at Colbert's Ferry on 
Red River. We were about three months in 
making the journey. We made many acquaint- 
ances, in order to learn as much as possible re- 
specting the country through which we passed, 



EIGHTEEN MONTHS IN DIXIE. 21 

intending, if not pleased with Texas, to return 
and settle in some part of Missouri or Arkansas. 
I was exceedingly pleased with most of the 
country along our route. 

We arrived at our place of destination in 
Collin county, Texas, in the latter part of July, 
stopping for awhile with an old acquaintance 
by the name of McFarland, formerly a citizen 
of Beaver county, Pennsylvania. From Beaver 
he removed to Coshocton county, Ohio; from 
Coshocton he went to Iowa, and had finally 
made his way to Texas. Our stopping-place 
was about eighty miles west of the point from 
which the mysterious letter was written, and of 
course we received no information respecting 
our long-lost brother. From the time of our 
arrival until the 5th of October we spent in 
looking at the country, and were well pleased 
with it. From information gained from the old 
settlers, we felt satisfied that it was well adapted 
to the business which we intended to follow — 
stock raising. Sheep being scarce and very 
high, we determined to return to Arkansas or 
Missouri to buy a flock. We arrived in St. 
Louis on the 31st of October. It being now 
late in the season, we abandoned the notion of 
buying, and determined to wait until the return 
of spring. We spent the winter in Illinois, 



22 THE YANKEE CONSCRIPT; OR, 

about thirty miles from St. Louis. On our way 
from Texas, we witnessed some of the fruits of 
the abominable institution of slavery. A drove 
of mules was proceeding southward from Mis- 
souri to Louisiana. At the front of the drove 
was an old negro woman apparently above sixty 
years of age. She was riding one of the mules, 
which, as the leader of the drove, wore a bell. 
The woman was weeping most bitterly. She 
had probably been purchased by the owner of 
the drove for a mere trifle ; and now, separated 
for ever from husband, children, and friends, was 
proceeding, with a broken heart and bruised 
spirit, to some unknown plantation in the far- 
distant South, to end her weary life unwept and 
unlamented. 

In the spring of 1858, we prepared for re- 
turning to Texas. We left St. Louis on the 10 th 
of May. At Big Piney river we fell in com- 
pany with two gentlemen from Illinois, going 
to Texas. One of them was a physician. We 
traveled in company for a considerable distance. 
On arriving at the Gasconade river, we found 
seventeen families on their way to Texas. The 
river being high, they were detained until it 
should fall sufficiently to admit of their cross- 
ing. Among these emigrants there was a young 
man by the name of William Curley, from East- 



EIGHTEEN MONTHS IN DIXIE. 23 

em T<jjas. He had been at St. Louis settling 



o 



his father's estate, and was on his way back to 
Texas. As we were standing on the bank of 
the river, the doctor, in speaking to my brother, 
called him Fisher. This caught the attention of 
Curie y, who asked my brother if he had ever 
lived in Eastern Texas. He replied in the nega- 
tive. Further conversation led to the discovery 
that he was acquainted with a man in Texas by 
the name of Fisher, and from the description he 
gave of him, we felt satisfied that he was our 
lost brother. 

On reaching Dallas county, Missouri, we be- 
gan to buy stock, but made rather slow progress, 
the quality of the stock not being very good. 
"We were obliged to travel through several coun- 
ties in order to obtain the number of head that 
we desired. By the 10th of June we had pur- 
chased our flock, and set out for Texas. On our 
way we met numerous droves of beef cattle and 
Spanish horses going from Texas to Missouri, 
Kansas, Iowa, and Illinois. We crossed the 
Fifteen Mile Prairie on the 4th of July. As we 
approached the north fork of the Canadian river, 
our horses were very much annoyed by swarms 
of large green flies. So troublesome did' they 
become that we were obliged to cover our horses 
with blankets, pull prairie grass, and keep up 



24 THE YANKEE CONSCRIPT; OR, 

a constant fire until toward evening, when the 
pests disappeared. Near the river, on the eve- 
ning of the same day, we passed a drove of five 
hundred head of large cattle. We had heard 
of them a few days before from travelers who 
had passed them, and had incidentally mentioned 
the difficulty which the drovers had experienced 
in preventing them from stampeding. We en- 
camped about two miles south of them. I was 
on guard. About ten o'clock, I was startled by 
a heavy rumbling sound, which appeared to 
shake the very ground. Not knowing whence 
it proceeded, I woke my brother, and he, hav- 
ing crossed the plains to California, and being 
familiar with such sounds, at once discovered 
that the drove of cattle was coming towards us 
at full speed. In an instant we were on our 
horses, and as they approached within a few 
hundred rods of us we met them, and by whoop- 
ing, hallooing, and firing our pistols in the air, 
we turned them off the road, and prevented a 
general slaughter among our sheep. When a 
large drove breaks and runs, it can not be 
stopped at once. The usual plan is to circle 
them round until they begin to tire, and then 
they are easily managed. 

We reached our friend's residence in Collin 
county in the latter part of July. During our 



EIGHTEEN MONTHS IN DIXIE. 25 

absence, he had received a letter for us from 

Curley, stating that Fisher was at Tishe- 

mingo in the Chickasaw nation, whither he had 
gone a few months before. He stated that he 
was expecting him back in a few days. Soon 
after our arrival, I had a very severe attack of 
fever, arising from exposure on our way down 
from Missouri. For a long time my life was 
despaired of, but I began slowly to recover. In 
the mean time my brother had written to East- 
ern Texas to the brother who was expected to 
return from Tishemingo. He received the let- 
ter, and immediately came to see us. Our feel- 
ings on meeting can be better imagined than 
expressed. He had been absent from home nine 
years, and for five years we had no knowledge 
of his whereabouts. 

In September we started for Wise county, 
with the intention of purchasing land, but aban- 
doned our original intention and purchased in 
Denton county, on Duck creek, the head waters 
of the Trinity. On the 5th of January, 1860, I 
was married to Miss Amanda Reed,, daughter 
of Mr. William Keed. Mr. Reed was born in 
Maysville, Kentucky. From thence he emigra- 
ted to Andrew county, Missouri, where he re- 
mained some time, and then removed to Texas. 
A son-in-law of his had gone to Texas in 1858. 



26 THE YANKEE CONSCRIPT; OR, 

His name was Peter Luginbyhl. He was a 
native of Winesburgh, Holmes county, Ohio, 
and some time previously had left home and 
settled in Nebraska. I mention his name in 
this place, because I shall have occasion to refer 
to him again in the sequel. 

During the first few years of our residence in 
Texas, we sold our wool in Jefferson, and with 
the proceeds we bought groceries, which we very 
readily disposed of on our return. On one of his 
trips back with a load of groceries, my brother 
witnessed a sight which is not a very uncommon 
one in any part of the slaveholding South, but 
which, to those who are unused to such barbari- 
ties, might seem incredible. On the journey, 
he stopped all night at the house of a planter. 
Among other goods he had a quantity of to- 
bacco, which, for safe keeping, he had removed 
from the wagon and taken to the house. In the 
morning it was discovered that a few iayers. of 
the tobacco were missing. The slaves were 
called together and examined. The guilt ap- 
peared to rest on one of the female slaves — a 
young woman of about twenty years of age. 
The planter ordered the overseer to tie her to a 
post which was used for such purposes, and give 
her a certain number of lashes, which was done. 
Not being yet satisfied with the degree of pun- 



EIGHTEEN MONTHS IN DIXIE. 27 

ishment, although her tattered raiment and the 
ground on which she stood were saturated with 
blood, the master let loose a pack of blood- 
hounds, and not until they had mangled and 
torn her bleeding, quivering flesh was his 
devilish malice satisfied. 

Since my return to the North, the question 
has often been asked me — What kind of society 
have you in Texas? To this question it is 
proper to reply that there is some very good, 
and some very bad, — the most refined, and the 
most degraded. The people may properly be 
divided into four classes, — the slaveholding 
class, a non-slaveholcling class of respectable 
citizens from all parts of the United States and 
Europe, poor whites from the Southern States, 
and a numerous class of scoundrels and black- 
legs from all parts of the country, who have 
fled from home to escape punishment for crime. 
A large proportion of the population belongs to 
the second and third classes. The first men- 
tioned class comprises the aristocracy of the 
country. They are gentlemanly in their man- 
ners and honorable in their dealings, but blindly 
and fanatically attached to the institution of 
slavery ; and unless a man can endorse the sys- 
tem, it is much safer for him to say nothing 
about it in the presence of such unscrupulous 



28 THE YANKEE CONSCRIPT; OR, 

champions of human bondage. The second class 
is mostly made up of Northern men — men of 
energy, enterprise, and intelligence, who, not 
satisfied with the circumscribed field of action 
in the crowded North, have left their early 
homes to seek their fortunes in a State in which, 
before the war, there was a much better chance 
of doing something and being something in the 
world. Those belonging to the third class are 
an ignorant and degraded herd. Yery few of 
them can read or write. Like all ignorant peo- 
ple, they are the slaves of prejudice. Having 
no knowledge of the people of the Northern 
States but that derived from the distorted cari- 
catures of their character, manners, and customs 
which abound in the public prints, and are in- 
dustriously circulated by unprincipled dema- 
gogues, they are filled with the bitterest preju- 
dice against all Northern men. Almost the first 
question they ask a stranger is, " What State 
are you from?" If he proves to be from Ar- 
kansas, Tennessee, North Carolina, or any of 
the Southern States, they are infinitely pleased; 
but if he should prove to be from the North, 
their dissatisfaction and disappointment are 
manifest. The fourth class is composed of 
sharpers, — men without principle and without 
morality. Both they and the slaveholders 



EIGHTEEN MONTHS IN DIXIE. 29 

exercise a controlling influence over these poor, 
ignorant whites, who, for a dram of whisky, 
would vote for the devil. 

In the fall of 1858, two gentlemen from Mis- 
sissippi, by the names of Terry and Keep, pur- 
chased a large tract of land on Clear creek, 
about eight miles north-west of my residence. 
They began to improve it immediately. They 
built a large dwelling-house and a steam flour- 
ing and saw-mill. Luginbyhl and a younger 
brother did the carpenter work of all the build- 
ings. While they were engaged in building 
the mill, they employed two young men by the 
names of Tupper and Dorse, both lately from 
Pike's Peak, but originally from Illinois. Tup- 
per, having some knowledge of engineering, 
was employed afterwards to run the engine. I 
will have occasion to refer to all the above 
named gentlemen in the sequel. 

In the summer of 1859, my brother, who had 
been absent from home ten years, visited the 
home of his childhood. The friends were taken 
completely by surprise. We had not written 
home anything concerning him, in order that the 
surprise might be the more complete. On his 
way home, at our request, he stopped in St. 
Louis and seat us the Missouri Democrat, a 
strong Republican paper. The paper was 



30 THE YANKEE CONSCRIPT; OR, 

addressed to my brother, and on its arrival at 
the post office he was notified by the postmaster 
at Denton to have the paper stopped. My 
brother replied that if he wanted the paper 
stopped, he might do it himself; that as long as 
the paper came to the office, and he would de- 
liver it, he would continue to read it. In the 
meantime, through suspension of the mails, the 
paper was discontinued. My brother returned 
again to Texas in the fall of the same year, and 
is still in Texas, if not conscripted into the 
Eebel army, which he was determined to avoid, 
if possible. 



EIGHTEEN MONTHS IN DIXIE. 81 



CHAPTER II. 

Great Excitement— Southern Stump Speakers-- Wig fall— A 
Journey — Curing Buffalo Meat — An Incident — Souse 
Burning — Abolitionism — Preparation for JRebellion — 
Prairie Matches — John Smith and Bill Jones — Torture— 
lynching — Correspondence with Friends Dangerous — The 
Day Book — Voting — Election of Lincoln — Speeches Again 
— Families Leaving the State— Preparing for War— Trad- 
ing Lands — Drafting — Impressments. 

In the summer of I860, any man with ordinary 
penetration could see that trouble was brewing. 
It seemed as though Satan were loose. South- 
ern disunionists manifested the most deadly ani- 
mosity against men from the free States. The 
politicians fanned the flame of popular excite- 
ment by speeches of the most bloodthirsty 
character. Among the worst was Wigfall. He 
tried, like Alexander, to make the rude and 
ignorant rabble believe that he was almost a 
divine being; and if lying and drunkenness 
could give him any title to the distinction, he 
must have had some claim to it, for he could 
tell bigger lies and drink more whisky than 
any other man in the State. Wherever he 
went his wife was obliged to accompany him, in 
order to keep him as near sober as possible, 



32 THE YANKEE CONSCRIPT; OR, 

But in spite of her watchfulness he would 
sometimes slip away, find the grocery store, 
get drunk, and go out on the streets and make 
antic speeches to the boys. He was the worst 
drunkard and gambler, and the most profane 
blackguard in the State. 

It was about this time that my brother and I 
took a trip out to the frontier on the Little 
Witch ita river. On our way we met a great 
many wagons returning from the Big Witchita, 
laden with jerked buffalo meat and rugs. The 
poorer classes find in the former a good substi- 
tute for bread, and the latter they use for bed- 
ding. Jerked meat is prepared in the following 
way : — As soon as a buffalo is killed and dressed, 
the flesh is cut in thin slices. Forks are then 
driven into the ground, the forks being about 
four or five feet high ; on the forks cross-poles 
are laid within a few inches of each other, and 
the slices of meat are laid on these poles. A 
small fire is built beneath, the smoke of which 
keeps off the flies, and the hot sun very soon 
dries the meat thoroughly. 

On the 7th we reached the camp of the United 
States Rangers, on the Little Witchita. Within 
a distance of eight miles there were thousands of 
buffalo. The Indians having burnt the grass on 
Salt Plains, they were drawn toward Red river 



EIGHTEEN MONTHS IN DIXIE. 33 

for pasturage and water. There is excitement 
as well as sport in hunting these animals. A 
short time before our visit, fifteen of the Ran- 
gers set out on a hunt, intending, if they could, 
each man to kill his buffalo in one day. They 
made their arrangements accordingly. Know- 
ing the place where they were accustomed to go 
for water, they secreted themselves in the edge 
of a lawn, where they knew the herd would pass 
in going to the river. They agreed to allow 
about half of them to pass before any shot was 
fired ; then the hindmost man was to shoot one, 
and as they broke back, each man, in turn, was 
to try his luck. One of their number, however, 
spoiled the fun. Being very excitable, and 
fearful of missing his prize, he blazed away, 
although he stood near the center of the com- 
pany, just when the first buffalo came in range. 
I need hardly say that they did not kill fifteen 
that day. The number of these animals in that 
region of the country is immense. It is no 
uncommon thing to see thousands in a drove, 
about the watering places. 

During our absence, three of the largest 
stores in Denton were burned. The fire took 
place in the afternoon, about two o'clock, on 
Sabbath, the 7th. Similar conflagrations oc- 
curred in other places on the same day, and 
3 



34 THE YANKEE CONSCRIPT; OR, 

about the same hour. This, raised the greatest 
excitement. Immediately the cry was raised : 
" Abolitionists ! Abolitionists ! They are try- 
ing to burn our towns and destroy our property 
indiscriminately." 

We reached home on the 10th. Every 
well and spring was guarded. A standing 
guard was kept in Denton day and night for 
some time afterward. ISTo one was allowed 
to pass without undergoing a thorough exami- 
nation, except citizens and those with whom 
the guards were perfectly well acquainted. 
Negroes were arrested. Those on whom sus- 
picion rested most strongly were unmercifully 
whipped, and they were forced to declare 
that strychnine had been given to them by the 
Abolitionists ; that there was a secret organiza- 
tion among the negroes under the control of 
the Abolitionists; that at an appointed time 
they were to poison all the wells and springs, 
and rise and slaughter the slaveholders indis- 
criminately. These charges were without a 
shadow of foundation, and the slaveholders 
well knew it ; but they had their desired effect. 
The whole country was excited. Yengeance 
was vowed against the Abolitionists, and many 
innocent men lost their lives. As to the burn- 
ing of so many stores, it was the opinion of all 



EIGHTEEN MONTHS IN DIXIE. 35 

reasonable men that the fires originated from 
the igniting of prairie matches by the excessive 
heat. The day was one of the hottest ever 
known in that region of country. 

The prairie match is an entirely different 
article from the match in common use. It is 
made of paper, about as thick as pasteboard, 
and is about one-eighth of an inch wide. It is 
in common use on the prairies, being specially 
adapted to the wants of travelers on these open 
and windy plains, from the fact that the wind 
only makes it burn the better. It is very easily 
ignited. One of my neighbors had procured a 
box of these matches before the burning of the 
stores above mentioned, and afterwards made 
some experiments with them, which tended to 
confirm the theory that the stores had been 
burnt by the ignition of these matches. By 
placing them near a fire, or on the window-sill 
where the rays of the sun would fall on then, 
they were at once ignited. The prairie matches 
were the " Abolitionists" which fired the stores. 

But this version of the affair did not suit the 
slaveholders. The excitement was undoubtedly 
set on foot as a part of the grand scheme by 
which secession was forced upon an unwilling 
people. It was but a part of the plan by which 
rebellion was matured. They who started tho 



36 



THE YANKEE CONSCRIPT; OR, 



lie and fanned the flame of excitement, were 
only working in harmony with high officials 
under the Buchanan administration, who scat- 
tered our navy into distant seas, filled Southern 
forts with cannon and ammunition, and robbed 
the Mints of the United States of their coin and 
bullion. 

One very noticeable fact connected with the 
store-burning excitement speaks but little in 
favor of Southern justice. The testimony of a 
negro on oath is never admissible in their 
courts ; but a negro's word was enough to hang 
an Abolitionist. As an illustration of this, let 
me state what frequently took place during 
these exciting times. I will not mention parties 
personally, but make use of two familiar names 
— John Smith and Bill Jones, Smith a true- 
born Southern slaveholder, Jones a man of 
Northern birth. They were neighbors. Jones 
owned no darkeys. Of course this was prima 
facie evidence that he was an Abolitionist. 
Smith did not like Jones. He takes advantage 
of the excitement against the Abolitionists to 
get rid of his unwelcome neighbor. A few 
birds of his own feather are called together. 
His negroes, altogether ignorant of his inten- 
tion, are brought in. He takes those of them 
whom he pretends to suspect, pinions them, and 



EIGHTEEN MONTHS IN DIXIE. 37 

fastens them to a post. He then takes his whip 
and goes to work, one at a time. Every few 
minutes he stops, and asks his victim if Jones 
had not been saying so and so to him. Of 
course the cut and bleeding slave would finally 
answer, Yes, in order to get rid of the intoler- 
able lash. Then Smith, turning to his approv- 
ing friends, says : " Didn't I tell you so, gentle- 
men ? I knew Jones had been tampering with 
my negroes." This is enough. Smith and his 
friends go and take Jones and hang him with- 
out further ceremony. Many innocent men lost 
their lives in this very way. 

It is most devoutly to be wished that some 
of our Southern sympathizers could have been 
shipped to Texas during the time of the most 
intense excitement. Some of them, most likely, 
would have stretched hemp as Abolitionists — 
for then every Northern man was suspected; 
or they would have started back to the land of 
law and order in a regular stampede, thoroughly 
cured of their sympathizing tendencies. There 
was at the time of these excitements a gentle- 
man in Texas from the Eastern States, selling 
maps. Suspicion was soon raised that he was 
an Abolitionist ; and that, while his ostensible 
employment was that of a map pedler, his real 



38 THE YANKEE CONSCRIPT; OR, 

object was to excite the slaves to insurrection. 
He was arrested and hung. 

Many lost their lives by inadvertently ex- 
pressing their opinions in writing to their 
friends at the North. A complete system of 
surveillance was established previous to the 
stopping of the mails. Letters put in the mails 
were opened; and if anything contrary to 
Southern orthodoxy was found in them, the 
unfortunate authors usually suffered summary 
vengeance at the hands of an infuriated mob. 
About that time I received a letter from a 
cousin of mine who was teaching school in Vir- 
ginia. Being strongly anti-slavery in his opin- 
ions, he took occasion to express his sentiments 
to me pretty freely. It Was fortunate for me 
that the letter escaped the fingers of the cen- 
sors ; for if it had been opened and perused, it 
would, in all probability, have cost me my life. 
On perusing its contents, I committed it to the 
flames, and did not dare to answer it. Had I 
done so, and merely cautioned him as to what 
he should write, this caution itself would have 
been construed into evidence against me. 

I rejoiced when the mails were stopped ; for 
before, I was constantly in dread that some of 
my friends would be a little too free in express- 
ing their sentiments, and thus be the means of 



EIGHTEEN MONTHS IN DIXIE. 39 

bringing me into trouble. Many at the North 
will never hear of loved ones who sought 
homes in the South, and fell victims to the 
brutal fury excited by their own unguarded 
expressions. Such was the state of things in 
the South, while the fundamental law of the 
land guarantees freedom of speech to every 
citizen. Such was Southern respect for the 
Constitution. 

In the fall of 1859, two families came to 
Texas from Iowa. Their names were Kester 
and Morris. A young man by the name of 
Thomas Geddes, from East Liverpool, Ohio, 
accompanied them. After their arrival, Geddes 
made his home with my brother and myself, 
and agreed to crop our farm. Morris lost his 
wife a few months after their arrival, became 
dissatisfied with the country, and in the spring 
he and Kester started back to Iowa with a 
drove of cattle. In the following fall, at the 
time of the excitement, Geddes received a let- 
ter from Morris, stating that he was about to 
send him two Republican papers, one of which 
had before been strongly Democratic, but had 
changed. Geddes called at the office at different 
times after receiving the letter, but never got 
the papers. 

Some time after Geddes had received the let- 



40 THE YANKEE CONSCRIPT; OR, 

ter, there was a house-raising in the neighbor- 
hood. Mr. Luginbyhl, whom I mentioned in 
the preceding chapter, was present, and noticed 
some mysterious movements among the com- 
pany. He very soon found that the papers 
which Geddes had so frequently called for, and 
had never received, were in the possession of 
the crowd. They affirmed that after the Mis- 
souri Democrat had been stopped, Fisher had 
sent on for the two papers in question, and was 
taking them in Geddes's name, in order to play 
sharp. There was great excitement, and the 
purpose of many of them to make him stretch 
hemp was not concealed. As soon as my 
brother received intelligence of what was going 
on, he and Geddes went round and showed the 
letter. This was deemed satisfactory ; but we 
were very uneasy for some time, kept our 
doors locked at night, and went well armed for 
fear of the mob. 

Kather a laughable joke, growing 'out of this 
affair, happened at my brother's expense some 
time afterward. Geddes had been away, and 
returned home after we had retired. The night 
being very warm, my brother was sleeping with 
the door of his room open. Geddes stepped 
in without speaking, and placed his hand 
on the bed to see if he was asleep. Immedi- 



EIGHTEEN MONTHS IN DIXIE. 41 

ately lie set up a series of the most frightful 
screams that ever proceeded from a human 
throat. He soon found how matters stood, 
however, and became calm. He had been 
dreaming of the mob, and when, at that 
moment, Geddes laid his hand on his feet, he 
thought it was all over with him. We had a 
hearty laugh at his expense ; but the fact is, to 
take a sober thought, it was no laughing matter. 

Yery soon all the Black Eepublican and 
Abolition papers quit coming, or were de- 
stroyed by the postmaster ; while such papers 
as justified slavery and apologized for treason 
had a large circulation. The New York Day 
Booh could be had weekly until the stopping of 
the mails, and had a larger circulation than any 
ten of the rankest secession papers printed in 
the South. 

On the day of the Presidential election, the 
secessiouists had every thing their own way. 
There were some Douglas Democrats in the 
precinct in which I lived. They went to the 
polls to vote for the candidate of their choice, 
but there was no chance for them. No man 
was permitted to vote who would not vote for 
Breckinridge. Douglas Democrats, what clo 
you think of this mode of conducting an 
election? Do you call this Democracy? If 



42 THE YANKEE CONSCRIPT; OR, 

not, you are getting behind the times, and had 
better take a trip to Texas and become posted. 
The election resulted just as the leaders of the 
rebellion desired. They had laid their plans 
well, and they had succeeded admirably. They 
divided the party in the Convention at Charles- 
ton on purpose to allow the Eepublicans to 
elect their candidate, hoping, by the success of 
the Eepublicans to gain a plausible pretext for 
secession. 

As soon as the result of the election was 
known, our State was overrun by demagogues 
crying " Secession," "Secession," interminably. 
All the South had to do, they said, was to 
secede ; and as soon as the North saw that they 
were determined to have a government of their 
own, and the difficulty or impossibility of whip- 
ping them back into the Union, they would let 
them go ; especially as many at the North had 
always insisted that they could get along very 
well without the South. Such were the argu- 
ments used by some of the speakers. Others 
affirmed that they would obligate themselves 
to drink all the blood which would be shed ; 
and others, holding up the little pitcher which 
stood on the stand by their side, declared that it 
would hold all the blood which would be spilt 
as the result of secession. 



EIGHTEEN MONTHS IN DIXIE. 43 

This was the general tone of the speakers 
and of the press in all parts of the South. 
They soon accomplished their ends. Out went 
the bell-wether, South Carolina, on the 10th of 
December, 1860. The ice being broken, Mis- 
sissippi followed on the 8th of January, 1861. 
Then Florida, January 16th; Louisiana, Jan- 
uary 18th; Georgia, January 19th. Texas, fear- 
ing that she would become unpopular by delay, 
proposed to submit the question of secession to 
the people ; but long before the northern coun- 
ties had time to get in their returns, she made 
the leap and broke her neck, on February 1st. 
Arkansas followed suite on February 5th ; and 
on February 9 th, king Davis was inaugurated 
for the term of six years. Secession was con- 
summated and war begun during the adminis- 
tration of Mr. Buchanan. 

After the election, many families began to 
make preparations to leave the State in the 
spring; some intending to go to California, 
some to Kansas, and some to Northern Mis- 
souri. My brother had the California fever 
pretty strong, and tried to get me to consent to 
accompany him. I would not consent, partly 
on account of my wife's health, and partly be- 
cause I feared the Indians would be trouble- 
some. In December, I bought out his interest 



44 THE YANKEE CONSCRIPT; OR, 

in the farm, and we divided our stock. His 
California fever having subsided, he moved to, 
and began to improve a tract of land which he 
had purchased, about one mile south of my 
farm, on Clear creek. In the following spring, 
seeing many of our friends and acquaintances 
leaving the State, he again took a notion to 
leave. He exchanged his flock for a drove of 
Spanish horses ; and he and Geddes and another 
bachelor by the name of Emanuel Grounds, 
started for Kansas, on the 1st day of April, 
1861. During April, hundreds of families left 
the State for California and the Northern 
States. Many of them were obliged to leave 
most of their property, not being able to sell it 
for anything like its value. It has since been 
sequestered by the rebel government. 

I was obliged to act on the old adage that 
when in Rome it is best to do as Romans do. 
I sent for the rankest rebel paper printed in the 
State, the Houston Telegraph. I was often 
asked, "How do you like your paper?" and 
generally replied in such a way as to make 
them believe that I was all right. Most of my 
friends were gone. McFarland, whom I men- 
tioned in the preceding pages, having lost his 
wife and daughter in the spring of 1859, 
returned to Coshocton county, Ohio, in the fall 



EIGHTEEN MONTHS IN DIXIE. 45 

of the same year. He married in Ohio, and 
soon after returned to Texas. But the times 
were gloomy and threatening. Being a man of 
keen perception and great shrewdness, he con- 
cluded that things had not yet come to the 
worst, and determined to leave the State while 
he could. He sent a neighbor to Missouri to 
ascertain if any of the secessionists in his old 
neighborhood could be induced to exchange 
their lands in Missouri for his lands in Texas. 
This was easily accomplished. Plenty of 
secessionists in Northern Missouri were just as 
anxious to leave Missouri for Texas as Union 
men were anxious to leave Texas for Missouri. 
McFarland, having effected an exchange, pre- 
pared to remove to Missouri. My wife and I 
paid him a visit on the 21st of July, 1861, a 
few days before he left. He was very uneasy 
for fear the fire-eaters would not let him leave 
the State. Such rumors were afloat at the 
time. He, however, got away without any* 
difficulty, and reached Nodaway county, Mis- 
souri, in a few months. The man with whom 
McFarland exchanged property left Missouri 
after he arrived, and came and settled in Collin. 
I passed a night with him there in May, 1862. 
Not knowing that McFarland and I were 
acquaintances, he came down on him severely, 



46 



denouncing him as an Abolitionist, and affirm- 
ing that he and all other Abolitionists had 
been served just right, and that if he had the 
power, he would hang every one of them. 

There was one class of Union men at the 
South who continued to speak their minds 
boldly and with comparative impunity, when 
all others were compelled to fly from the coun- 
try or conceal their true sentiments. They 
were those who had been born and brought up 
in the South. Many of them owned slaves. I 
shall speak of some of these in the course of 
my narrative. They fought a noble battle, but 
their day of freedom was short. 

In the latter part of August, 1861, I had a 
severe attack of fever, arising from exposure 
and overwork. It was difficult to obtain help 
in consequence of the large number of men 
who were volunteering. I therefore rented my 
farm in September, and put up a cabin in 
another tract of land which I had purchased, 
situated two miles and a half south of my 
former location. I removed my stock to this 
new farm, and began to build a dwelling-house, 
which I completed in a few months. 

On the 15th of April, 1861, President Lin- 
coin issued a proclamation calling out seventy- 
five thousand men for three months. This was 



EIGHTEEN MONTHS IN DIXIE. 47 

immediately followed by a counter proclama- 
tion by $he rebel President, who called for a 
large number of men for one year. The quot?. 
of Texas under this call was very soon filled 
volunteers being led to believe that there woul(; 
not probably be more than one little battle, an<\ 
that they could then return to their homes and, 
draw pay for one year. They were doomed tc 
grievous disappointment. The Union army 
being largely increased by volunteers for three 
years or during the war, it was soon found 
necessary to resort to drafting. In the month, 
of February, 1862, there was great excitement. 
Eecruiting officers were going round and try- 
ing to induce men to volunteer by asserting that 
it had been found necessary to draft in some 
counties in the State already, and that a draft 
would surely take place in Denton and some 
of the adjoining counties in a few weeks, unless 
their quotas were filled up by volunteering. 
The object of the special call for men was to 
defend Galveston and other points along the 
coast from the attack of Burnside, whose expe- 
dition, it was supposed, was destined for Texas. 
Many hundreds of men volunteered in order to 
avoid being drafted. Free State men who did 
not volunteer were subjected to great annoy- 
ance. Whatever they had which was useful 



48 THE YANKEE CONSCRIPT; OR, 

for fitting out the volunteers, was taken from 
them. Double-barreled shot-guns seemed to be 
in the greatest demand ; but revolvers, bowie 
knives, and blankets were eagerly sought for. 
I was called upon some time in February by 
a volunteer, who demanded my double-barreled 
shot-gun. I refused to give it. I put him off 
by telling him that another man had spoken to 
me for it, to whom I granted it on certain 
terms. If he did not get it, I should probably 
want it myself, as I had thoughts of volunteer- 
ing. A few days afterward he returned, accom- 
panied by three others, all of them rough 
customers. They had watched for a good 
opportunity, and came to my house when I was 
away from home. They asked my wife for 
blankets, and while she was getting these 
articles for them, they took my gun. On my 
way home with my team, when about half a 
mile distant, I saw them coming out of the 
house. I immediately suspected their errand. 
They mounted their horses, and met me about a 
quarter of a mile from the house. I gave them 
the ordinary salutation as we met. Seeing my 
gun lying across the saddle of one of them, I 
asked him what he was going to do with it. 
He replied in a very independent manner that 
it was his gun now, and he was going to keep 







S % 

-^ O 

« s 

si 



EIGHTEEN MONTHS IN DIXIE. 49 

it. My blood was up. In an instant I jumped 
from the wagon, caught his leg with one hand 
and the breech of the gun with the other. His 
horse, being wild, plunged desperately, and he, 
finding he could not retain his seat and the gun 
too, let go his hold of the gun. All this trans- 
pired in a few seconds. Scarcely a halt was 
made. They were taken completely by sur- 
prise; and his companions offered him no 
assistance. Taking the gun, I ran forward and 
overtook my team, that had been moving on 
all the time. Looking back, I saw that they 
were consulting as to what they should do 
next. As I drove up to the house, my wife 
was standing in the door. I called to her to 
get the ammunition, jumped from the wagon, 
and loaded both barrels of the gun heavily 
with buck-shot. They were soon on their way 
back. As they rode up they demanded the 
gun. I was standing in the door with the gun 
by my side, and replied very decidedly that 
they could not get it ; that they had acted in 
an ungenerous and ungentlemanly manner in 
coming to my house during my absence and 
taking the gun from my wife, after they had 
been well supplied with blankets; that, there- 
fore, they could not and should not get it with- 
out first getting its contents, and taking it over 
4 



50 THE YANKEE CONSCRIPT; OB, 

my dead body. I told them if they had acted 
as gentlemen, if they had come when I was at 
home and asked for it decently, they could 
have had it ; but now they could leave without 
it. And they did. In conversation with my 
herdsman afterward, they took occasion to 
belch forth their venom, calling me a d — d 
Yankee, an Abolitionist, and other sonorous 
titles, ending with the devout observation that 
I ought to have my d — d heart cut out; but 
they never troubled me afterwards. 

On the first of March, my gun was again 
called for by four strangers. I was absent 
from home. My wife, being in delicate health, 
was in bed. Not seeing my gun, and knowing- 
nothing of the place where I kept it, they 
asked the privilege of searching the house. It 
was granted. They searched diligently, but 
left without the prize. It was hidden under 
the bolster of my wife's bed. Early on the 
next day, which was Sabbath, they came again. 
Finding me at home, they stated the object of 
their visit — they wanted my gun. I replied 
that I had the article, but was unwilling to give 
it up, for the reason that I intended to volun- 
teer as soon as circumstances would permit, 
when I would need it myself. Seeing that 
they were determined to have it, however, and 



EIGHTEEN MONTHS IN DIXIE. 51 

that if I refused to give it up I stood a good 
chance of being dealt with as others had been 
before, I concluded that it was the best and 
safest plan while in Rome to do as Romans do 
— to let them have it. I accordingly went to 
my wife's bed, raised the bolster, and revealed 
the gun's hiding-place, much to their surprise. 
My wife regretted the part she had to take in 
the affair, lest they should accuse her of false- 
hood ; but their moral perceptions were not 
very keen, and it is most likely they thought 
nothing of it. 

Rumors of a draft still continued. Many of 
my friends, therefore, began to cast about for 
ways of obtaining exemption if they should be 
drafted. In February, 1862, Mr. Terry, whom 
I have already mentioned, died of fever. Hav- 
ing no children, he willed his estate to a sister 
in Mississippi, and a nephew who came to 
Texas with him, whose name was Kalep. 
After the death of his uncle, Kalep went back 
to Mississippi to settle an estate which he had 
left when he emigrated to Texas. The mill 
property was advertised for rent. Mr. Tupper, 
who had been employed as engineer, was afraid 
that if the mill passed into the hands of a 
secessionist, he would lose his place on account 
of being a Union man. Being under the 



52 THE YANKEE CONSCRIPT; OR, 

impression that millers could not be drafted, he 
applied to the two Luginbyhl brothers, and 
urged them to rent their farms, and enter into 
partnership with him and rent the mill. They 
were easily induced to do so. 



EIGHTEEN MONTHS IN DIXIE. 53 



CHAPTER III. 

New Excitements — Maiding — Bereavements — Change of Lo- 
cation — 3Iob Law Again — Movements of Troops — Con- 
script Law Passed — Opposition to the Law — A Union 
Man and his Mode of Reasoning — Other Unionists of 
Note— Droving—Fright of the Rebels at Little Mock—Sick- 
ness in the liebel Army, 

I have already stated that my brother left 
Texas for Kansas with a drove of horses. He 
left some property unsold when he went away, 
and promised to write to me and direct me 
how to dispose of it; but I never received a 
word. To acid to the uneasiness which would 
naturally grow out of his silence, soon after he 
left the State four of his horses came back, 
giving some ground for the apprehension that 
he had been murdered on his way to Kansas. 
All doubts as to his personal safety were, how- 
ever, removed by the return of Emanuel 
Grounds on the 7th of March. His statements 
gave rise to the greatest excitement. He 
affirmed that after my brother crossed Red 
river he jumped up three times and cracked 
his heels together, and declared that he could 
now speak the sentiments of his mind freely, 



54 THE YANKEE CONSCRIPT; OR, 

and that he denounced the South in unmeasured 
terms. Grounds said that he and my brother 
had had a difficulty after their arrival in Kan- 
sas, and in order to have revenge on him, he 
had gone and enlisted for six months in the 
army of General Price, who was then in Mis- 
souri. During the time of his enlistment, he 
had gone twice to Kansas as a guide, with a 
band of guerillas, for the purpose of getting 
my brother's horses. He affirmed that on one 
of these raids they had succeeded in getting 
four or five from him ; that they had robbed 
the stores in the town near which he had lived, 
and had compelled the citizens to get teams 
and haul the stolen goods to a place where 
they considered themselves safe, and had then 
compelled them to take the oath of allegiance 
to the Southern Confederacy. 

These reports caused the wildest excitement, 
and I honestly believe that I would have lost 
my life, notwithstanding my professed loyalty 
to the Confederacy and careful suppression of 
my real feelings and sentiments, had it not 
been for the peculiar circumstances in which I 
was at that very time placed. My domestic 
afflictions kept the hand of violence from me. 
About four o'clock on Monday morning, March 
10th, 1862, I lost my wife and infant child. 



EIGHTEEN MONTHS IN DIXIE. 55 

The affliction was sudden and overwhelming. 
My wife was past speaking before I was aware 
of the sad truth that she must die. The phy- 
sician thought there was no danger, until she 
told him she was dying. Her last words were, 
" Oh, doctor, do let me have a little rest, and I 
hope I shall be happy I" ' 

Eeader, have you ever lost a loving and 
beloved companion ? If you have ever drunk 
of this bitter cup, you can form some idea of 
my feelings. How I suffered ! How my very 
heart was wrung with grief as I stood by the 
bedside of my dying wife, and saw her eyes 
grow glassy and motionless as Death drew over 
them his filmy veil! Oh! in one short hour 
to be stripped of all my joys — a stranger in a 
distant land, in a time of war and intense 
excitement, among strangers — nay, relentless 
enemies, — no friends near to drop a tear of 
sympathy except a few relatives of my depart- 
ed wife, called to mourn the second time within 
a little more than a year — for we had lost a 
child in January of the preceding year — this 
was trouble ! Could my wife but have spoken 
to me when I discovered that she was dying, it 
would have been worth worlds to me in the 
time of my sad bereavement. Man has no 



56 THE YANKEE CONSCRIPT; OR, 

friend so endearing and so true as a loving and 
beloved wife. 

But let me dwell no longer on this dark 
scene, for the remembrance of it overcomes me. 
My brother who still remained in Texas was in 
the county at the time of my bereavement, 
buying a drove of sheep for the army. On 
hearing of my misfortune, he came immediately 
to my residence, arrived before the funeral, and 
comforted me greatly by his sympathy and 
timely advice. I was desolate; home was no 
longer home. It had lost its attractiveness. 
There was little to bind me to it. I therefore 
determined to accompany my brother to East- 
ern Texas, taking my flock of sheep with me. 
We went to where he had his collected, and 
drove together, a distance of about sixty miles, 
into a part of the country where my brother 
was well acquainted, and where most of the 
people were Unionists. We sheared our flocks 
here, and I sold my stock sheep — those which 
were not* fit for the army. I got my friends to 
say, after I was gone, that I left the county in 
order to seek a safer place for my sheep, wolves 
being common in that county ; and instructed 
them to say, also, that after I had gone through 
with them, I intended to put them out on 
shares with some trusty man, and then volun- 



EIGHTEEN MONTHS IN DIXIE. 57 

teer. We were in no hurry to finish our shear- 
ing very soon ; it was a plausible excuse for 
not volunteering. We therefore protracted the 
work through a period of six weeks. Before 
the first of June, I had twice gone back to 
Denton to see about my property, making a 
short visit each time. I did not think that I 
ran much risk in doing so, as the excitement 
about my brother in Kansas had abated. 

A few days before I arrived in Denton, on 
my second visit, the citizens of Denton, the 
county seat, hung a man on the public square. 
One of my friends, being in town at the time, 
witnessed the sight. The person hung was a 
young man about twenty-seven years of age. 
He was from the North, and had been in Texas 
only a few years. He was a shrewd, thorough- 
going fellow, and, withal, a great ladies' man. 
About two weeks before the tragedy which 
ended with his life, he was married to a hand- 
some young lady, the daughter of an unyield- 
ing secessionist. The match was opposed by 
the father, and when it was finally accom- 
plished in spite of him, he was bent on revenge. 
Two objects would be gained if he could 
accomplish the young man's destruction: re- 
venge would be gratified, and his popularity 
with his secession friends would be wonderfully 



58 THE YANKEE CONSCKIPT; OR, 

increased. From some expressions his son-in- 
law made use of, he concluded that he was an 
Abolitionist. After that, it was easy for him 
to accomplish all he desired. Watching his 
opportunity, he caught the unfortunate young 
man in Denton, and immediately denounced 
him as an Abolitionist. It roused the people 
sooner than would the cry of " mad dog." A 
mob was soon collected, the father-in-law at the 
head of it ; and that inhuman wretch, inspired 
by a spirit that could proceed only from the 
infernal pit, put it to vote whether they would 
hang the man or not. Of course a majority 
were in favor of the rope. Why should they 
not ? Who would think of letting an Aboli- 
tionist go unhung ? He was informed by his 
father-in-law of the fate which awaited him, 
and told to prepare for what must soon take 
place — one o'clock being the hour appointed 
for the execution. The poor victim of hellish 
hate was utterly incredulous. He was among 
human beings, and not among fiends. They 
were trying to frighten him, he thought. 
Fully impressed with this idea, he ate a hearty 
dinner at the hotel where he was stopping. 
He was soon undeceived. After dinner, he was 
marched out and ordered to mount his horse, 
and escorted to the public square, where a few 



EIGHTEEN MONTHS IN DIXIE. 59 

post-oak trees were standing. When he saw 
that they were determined to hang' him, he 
pleaded piteously for his life. His entreaties 
were vain. Too many were thirsting for his 
blood. He then begged to be permitted to see 
and speak to his wife. It was scornfully 
denied. The rope was made fast to the limb 
of a tree, and his own father-in-law — my pen 
almost refuses to record the devilish deed— his 
own father-in-law fixed the rope around his 
neck. Still he pleaded. He declared that he 
had a large amount of gold and silver con- 
cealed, and he would give it up if they would 
spare him. But there was no relenting. Canni- 
bals never whet their teeth with a keener relish 
for the baked flesh of their victim than did that 
mob at Denton thirst for the blood of their 
trembling, helpless captive. He asked to be 
permitted to tell the secret to his wife. He 
was answered with jeers. The horse was 
driven from under him, and he fell. The rope, 
not being properly adjusted, caught him by the 
chin and the back of the neck, and there he 
hung struggling a needlessly long time in 
intense agony, until death finally came to his 
relief. After the mob were satisfied that he 
was dead, they cut him down, carried his 
corpse into the court-house, and laid it on the 



60 THE YANKEE CONSCRIPT; OR, 

floor where the citizens could have a fair view 
of the dead Abolitionist. When all were 
satisfied with the sight, a rough box was 
brought, and they tumbled him in with clothes 
unchanged, and buried him with less feeling 
than we would a dog. All was done without 
the knowledge of his wife. 

During the months of April, May, and a 
part of June, the roads were lined with troops 
going from Galveston and other points along 
the coast to Little Kock and Corinth. This 
was after the fall of New Orleans, which they 
styled the heart of the Southern Confederacy. 
The taking of that city by the Union forces 
raised a wonderful excitement among the Union 
men of Texas. They cried for peace, affirming 
that if the South would not give up the contest, 
the North would free every slave in the South. 
It was generally believed that if McClellan 
had been successful in his peninsular campaign, 
they must have given up their cause as hope- 
less; for in that event they could not have 
kept their army together. It was about this 
time that Davis recommended the passage of a 
conscript law which should embrace all be- 
tween the ages of eighteen and thirty-five. 
This law was passed by the rebel Congress, 
and in consequence of it, all the young men in 



EIGHTEEN MONTHS IN DIXIE. 61 

the army whose term of enlistment had expired 
were compelled to remain, as were also those 
between thirty-five and forty- five, who had 
volunteered for the war. 

In May, two captains returned to Texas on 
furlough, who reported that three regiments at 
Corinth had thrown down their arms and swore 
that they would fight no longer ; that the term 
for which they enlisted having expired, they 
were going home. But they were in a tighter 
place than they bargained for. Their general 
commanded them at once to reorganize; can- 
nons loaded with grape were brought to bear 
on them, and they were told that if they did 
not reorganize at once, they would be blown to 
pieces. This is a specimen of the devotion of 
the Southern soldiers to the cause in which 
they are engaged, and of the means made use 
of to keep their armies together. These state- 
ments produced a wonderful excitement among 
the Union citizens of Texas. Many solemnly 
vowed they would never submit to the con- 
scription law. In Collin, Grayson, Cook, Fan- 
nin, Lamar, and many other counties, meetings 
were held, and men of all cla'sses and of all 
ages— many of them near sixty — protested 
against it. It was generally believed that the 
law could not be enforced in the State, as there 



62 THE YANKEE CONSCRIPT; OR, 

were very few troops, except at Galveston, 
where it was necessary to keep them. Threats 
were freely made that if the ball were once put 
in motion, they would show how Texans would 
submit to conscripting. Davis and his coadju- 
tors were too cunning for them, however. It 
will appear in the sequel how the rebel gov- 
ernment managed to get them into the harness. 

While we were shearing our sheep, a wealthy 
slaveholder from Grayson county, hearing that 
I proposed to sell a part of my flock, came to 
see them. He was very anxious that I should 
let him have them on shares, being desirous of 
obtaining a flock for his negro boys to herd. 
Not wishing to put them out on shares, I 
offered to sell them to him, but we could not 
agree as to the price. I told him that, having 
lost my wife, and not being under the necessity 
of remaining at home, I had driven my flock 
to Fannin county for the purpose of selling my 
stock sheep, having been informed that there 
was a great demand for them in that county ; 
that after I had disposed of my stock sheep, my 
brother and I intended to drive our mutton 
sheep to the army, and that after we had dis- 
posed of them I intended to enlist. 

" Why, sir," said he, looking me in the face, 
" are you fool enough to volunteer, when we 



EIGHTEEN MONTHS IN DIXIE. 63 

are already whipped? I was born and raised 
in Kentucky; I have always owned slaves; 
but the motto of my old native State is, ' United 
we stand, divided we fall.' I am, therefore, 
bitterly opposed to secession and disunion. I 
did all 1 could to prevent it. I stumped my 
own county just previous to the passage of the 
ordinance of secession, and warned the- people 
of the consequences. I told them that the 
North would never consent to the independence 
of the South ; that they never would consent 
to give up the free navigation of the Mississippi 
river;, and that in less than a year they would 
pierce the heart of the Confederacy. I pre- 
dicted what has actually taken place. They 
have taken New Orleans. They will soon take 
Yicksburgh, and open the river from the Ohio 
to the Gulf, and the Confederacy will . be cut in 
two. If we do not give up the contest, they 
will set all our slaves at liberty ; but if we dis- 
band our troops and abandon the conflict, they 
will let our slaves alone. 

" Secession is no new scheme. It has been 
in contemplation for many years. Calhoun 
originated the heresy. We had no just cause 
for secession. For fifty out of seventy years 
Southern men occupied the Presidential chair. 
When we happened to choose a Northern 



64 THE YANKEE CONSCRIPT; OR, 

man, lie was always obliged to come under 
bonds to the South to promote their peculiar 
sectional interests. They had a Democratic 
Congress, a Democratic Supreme Court, a Dem- 
ocratic Cabinet, and Democratic Ministers in 
foreign countries. Democrats controlled the 
army — every thing was Democratic. What 
else, in the name of heaven, could they want ? 
But, sir, Southern leaders thought the reins of 
government belonged to them. They broke 
down the old Whig party, to which I used 
to belong, and loudly exulted over their vic- 
tory. The Whigs submitted; Next the Know- 
JSTothings, and they submitted. But when they 
found that the Kepublican party was about to 
win the day, they openly boasted that they 
never would submit to the Black Kepublicans, 
and that if this party elected their President, 
they would rebel. They met in convention at 
Charleston, not to nominate candidates in good 
faith with Northern Democrats, but to split the 
party. If they had nominated Stephen A. 
Douglas, he would have been elected. But they 
did not want him elected. It was their pur- 
pose to put two or three candidates in the field, 
and thus secure the election of the Kepublican 
candidate. Even if either Douglas or Bell had 
been elected, the South would have seceded. 



EIGHTEEN MONTHS IN DIXIE. 60 

It might not have been accomplished quite so 
precipitately, but they had been too long and 
too successfully preparing for secession to put 
it off long. During the administration of Mr. 
Buchanan they had scattered the navy into far 
distant seas, had filled Southern forts with ord- 
nance and ammunition, and had put as much 
public property as possible in such places as 
would make it an easy matter for them to seize 
and appropriate it to their own use. I was 
opposed to Mr. Lincoln's election ; but when it 
was plain that he was the choice of the people, 
I was willing to submit to the will of the 
majority, and wait patiently at least until he 
did something wrong. This would have been 
but fair ; for the North had always submitted 
when the South elected their candidates. The 
cry is, ' Abolition ! No more slave territory F 
Why, sir, we have more territory now than is 
profitable." 

The man who uttered these sentiments is Mr. 
Andrew Bryant. He is a fair representative of 
the Union men of Texas. There were -many 
such. General Sam Houston opposed secession 
to the last. He was Governor of the State at 
the time the ordinance of secession was passed, 
and did all he could against it. He warned the 
people of the consequences, and continued to 



66 THE YANKEE CONSCRIPT ; OR, 

oppose the mad work of the conspirators until 
they killed him politically, and he was obliged 
to retire into private life ; and not long after- 
ward passed he away from earth. May he rest 
in peace ! 

Mr. Robert Taylor, of Bonliam, was another 
of our Union men. He had been repeatedly a 
Representative in the State Legislature, and 
was serving the State in this capacity at the 
time that secession was consummated. He 
opposed it with great power and eloquence. 
The only thing that saved him from being 
branded as an Abolitionist was his Southern 
birth, and the fact that he was a slaveholder. 
The leaders of the rebellion both acknow- 
ledged and feared his power; and it is said 
that strong but unavailing efforts were made to 
bribe him to put forth his great influence in 
favor of secession, or, if not this, at least to 
keep quiet. 

I must add another name to the bright list 
of Union worthies — that of A. J . Hamilton. 
He gave proof of his pluck, and courage, and 
sterling patriotism by openly and fearlessly 
expressing his sentiments at a time when 
Lynch law was about the only law recognized 
in the State ; when many lost their lives by the 
hands of brutal mobs; and when many more 



EIGHTEEN" MONTHS INT DIXIE. 67 

were threatened. He was finally compelled to 
fly for his life, leaving wife, children, and prop- 
erty behind ; and fortunately reached the lines 
of the Union army in the latter part of the 
summer of 1862. The times nave changed 
since then. His prospects have brightened a 
little. He has been appointed Military Gov- 
ernor of that very State whose traitorous rulers 
drove him as a fugitive from their borders less 
than two years ago. May he make the foment- 
ers of treason tremble ! They used to call him 
the "roaring lion," on account of his bold 
fearlessness in advocacy of Union, and the 
vengeance which he denounced against any 
man or men who would dare to touch the 
loyalists of his county. The u roaring lion " 
is among them sure enough, and some of the 
traitorous dogs will be in his paws sooner than 
is quite agreeable to them ! 

Let it be understood that all these loyal men 
whom I have just named, were Southern men 
and slaveholders. Had they been Northern 
men, they would have been hung without pity. 
A circumstance which occurred in April of 
1862, in Bonham, will illustrate the intensenes.s 
of the animosity which existed in the minds of 
the people against men of opposite political 
opinions. Two citizens, one a Methodist min- 



68 



ister named Simpson, and the other a man 
named Russell, met in town one day. Simpson 
was one of the worst secessionists in the State, 
and strongly advocated the adoption of the 
guerilla mode of warfare. Russell was a 
staunch Union man. Both of them were old 
men, above sixty years of age. Of course the 
war was the absorbing topic of conversation. 
Russell expressed himself strongly against the 
war. Simpson snatched up his cane and gave 
Russell a rousing blow. Russell returned the 
compliment promptly; and the two old gray- 
headed disputants had a regular knock down. 

The state of affairs became worse and worse 
every day. Secessionists became more and 
more intolerant, and Unionists less and less 
able to give expression to their sentiments. 
The disloyalists pretended to be sure of gain- 
ing their independence. They knew of no 
political distinction but that of North and 
South, and a man had to be either for them or 
against them. If against them, he must expect 
to suffer the consequence. Many were the 
regrets expressed by the ringleaders of rebel- 
lion that they had allowed so many men to 
leave the State. Arms were scarce; all who 
left took arms with them, leaving the State 
almost bare ; and besides, every man who left 



EIGHTEEN" MONTHS IN DIXIE. 69 

lessened the number liable to do military duty 
in the South, and increased it in the North, 
making a difference of two. 

About the time we were engaged in shear- 
ing, part of a , regiment going from Galveston 
to Little Rock stopped at Kentuckytown to get 
their horses shod. In conversing with the citi- 
zens about the fall of New Orleans, one of the 
soldiers, a young, boyish-looking fellow, re- 
marked that he believed the South was going 
to be whipped. He had no sooner said the 
words than one of the men belonging to the 
regiment knocked him down and kicked him 
unmercifully. Had he been a man instead of a 
boy, he would, most likely, have paid the 
penalty of his imprudence with his life. A 
man dare not utter a word unfavorable to the 
cause of secession without endangering his life. 
Union men would sometimes express them- 
selves to one another when not in the company 
of secessionists, but it was not safe to do even 
this much ; for they would sometimes be over- 
heard, and then they were sure to suffer. Some 
having been betrayed and lost their lives, loyal 
men lost confidence in one another, and they 
were finally obliged to form secret organizations 
for mutual protection, and for greater security 
they adopted a system of secret signs and pass- 



70 THE YANKEE CONSCRIPT; OR, 

words. 1 sliall have occasion to mention this 
organization again before I close my narrative. 

After war had been actually inaugurated by 
the attack on Fort Sumter, all men from 
eighteen up to fifty were enrolled and were 
obliged to muster every two weeks. In the 
precinct in which I lived, all the men liable to 
military duty were ordered to procure uniforms 
at their own expense. The uniforms were all 
to be trimmed alike. A red stripe one inch 
in width was to run down each leg of the pants 
on the outside. The blouse was also to be 
trimmed with red, and was similar to that worn 
by the United States Kangers before the war. 
On the right breast were the letters C. S., signi- 
fying Confederate States. 

On the 4th of July, there was a muster 
and barbecue in Bolivar, about two miles from 
my residence. Two beeves and a few sheep 
were barbecued. I furnished a sheep, pretend- 
ing to be as stubborn a secessionist as any of 
them, in order to save my neck. Over three 
hundred partook of the refreshments, large 
numbers being citizens, ladies and children, 
who came to see the drill and hear the music. 

On Monday, the 16th, we started with our 
drove of mutton for Little Eock, Arkansas. 
Leather being scarce and very dear in Texas, I 



EIGHTEEN MONTHS IN DIXIE. 71 

took my wagon, intending to bring back a load 
of this article with me when I should return. 
On the 18th, we passed through Honey Grove, 
on the extreme edge of the county. In this 
place I ordered gravestones for my wife and 
child, stipulating that they should be ready for 
me as I returned. 

It was my intention, if the conscript law 
should be put in operation in Texas while I 
was absent in Arkansas, to make my way to 
the army of General Curtis or to Missouri, and 
allow my brother to return with the team and 
report that I had enlisted. He being above 
thirty-five years of age, was exempt under the 
conscript law in force at that time. My object 
in this plan was to prevent the confiscation of 
my property. On our way through the eastern 
counties of the State, we met many government 
wagons from Corinth, Mississippi, coming for 
flour. 

We reached Mill Creek Crossing on Eed 
river, in Bowie county, on Friday evening, the 
27th. We labored hard the whole of the next 
day in getting our drove across ; and the 
following day, being the Sabbath, we lay over, 
according to our usual custom, until Monday. 
We were in the vicinity of a magnificent 
plantation. Nine hundred acres were under 



72 THE YANKEE CONSCRIPT; OR, 

cultivation, worked by about one hundred and 
fifty negroes, who belonged to the estate. Not 
much cotton was in cultivation, owing to a 
recent law passed by the rebel Congress, re- 
stricting the cultivation of this article to two 
acres per hand during the war. We learned 
from the overseer that the owner of the estate 
had been accidentally killed a few months pre- 
viously. Johnson's brigade, from Dallas coun- 
ty, Texas, on their way to Tennessee, were 
crossing at the Ferry. They were armed with 
double-barreled shot-guns, which, on a march, 
they swung over the horns of their saddles. 
Having dismounted, the men were standing on 
the bank of the river. One of the horses, hap- 
pening to shake himself, the gun fell from the 
saddle, and as it struck the ground it was dis- 
charged, the loads of both barrels striking the 
planter. He died almost instantaneously, for 
the gun was heavily loaded with buck-shot. 

We passed through the south-east corner of 
the Choctaw Nation about twelve miles, and 
then entered Sevier county, Arkansas. In this 
vicinity we passed two plantations belonging to 
a certain Major Jones. He kept sixty negroes 
on each of these plantations. On one he culti- 
vated corn, on the other cotton. He had on 
the latter about five hundred acres in cultiva- 



EIGHTEEN MONTHS IN DIXIE. 73 

tion at this time. The cotton was about twenty 
inches high, and fifty or sixty negroes were at 
work cultivating it. Jones has four or five 
large plantations along the river, and is the 
wealthiest man in the Nation. He is said to be 
worth three millions of dollars. 

In passing through some of the river bottoms 
in Sevier county, some of our sheep were 
poisoned, and we were obliged to halt a few 
days until they recovered from the effects of 
the poison. The gentleman from whom we 
obtained pasture had just received a dispatch 
from Little Eock to the effect that General 
Curtis had formed a junction with General 
Fitch, ex-Governor of Indiana, at Duval's Bluffy 
on White river. General Fitch was com- 
mander of the gunboats and transports on this 
river. On receiving this information, my 
brother concluded that, inasmuch as it would 
be necessary to remain with the drove a few 
days longer, he would go on to Arkadelphia, 
fifty -five miles from Little Rock, and endeavor 
to arrange for the sale of the mutton at that 
place. He returned after an absence of five 
days' hard riding, having made satisfactory 
arrangements for the sale of our sheep. 

On the following Monday morning we start- 
ed again, crossing the Sabine at Paraclifta and 



74 THE YANKEE CONSCRIPT; OR, 

the Little Missouri at Murfreesboro', arriving 
at Arkadelphia on the 16th, after a tedious and 
oppressive drive, the weather being extremely 
warm. Our flock was very readily disposed 
of, being the first that had been driven to the 
army in Arkansas. 

Hindman, the rebel general in command at 
Little Kock, was very much alarmed at the 
threatening attitude of General Curtis. Hind- 
man's force Was small at the time, and had 
Curtis advanced, it was the openly expressed 
conviction of the rebels themselves that he 
would take the place ; and under this impres- 
sion, preparations were made to evacuate the 
town in case Curtis should move on it. Many 
of the sick had been brought to Arkadelphia, 
and others were on the way, all amounting to 
about five hundred. Three churches and two 
hotels had been taken, and were fitted up as 
hospitals. Many of the sick were dying. 
Though Hindman's force was small, I learned 
that his men were dying at the rate of about 
eighteen or twenty per day. 

The mortality in the army of the Confed- 
erates is much greater than in the Union army, 
and the reason is obvious. Manual labor in 
the South was principally performed by the 
negroes. Few, comparatively, of the whites 



EIGHTEEN MONTHS IN DIXIE. 75 

are used to it. Now, when we consider that 
up to the time of which I am writing the 
great body of the Confederate army was made 
up of young men from eighteen or less to thir- 
ty-five years of age, it is easy to see the cause 
of the great mortality that prevails in the rebel 
ranks. Ladies, unused. to the more difficult 
kinds of employment in which men are usually 
engaged, could never endure the fatigues of 
war. If compelled to undergo its hardships, 
they would sicken and die by multitudes. 
And yet ladies are just as capable of enduring 
the fatigues of war as many thousands of deli- 
cate and effeminate young men, such as fill up 
the ranks of the rebel army. They are entirely 
unused to labor, and when going out in the 
summer, must use an umbrella to protect them 
from the rays of the sun. This is the reason 
why so many thousands of men in the rebel 
army die of sickness — at least it is the chief 
reason. To this add the well known fact that 
they are very poorly clad and provided for, 
and it is easy to account for the great amount 
of sickness and the frightful mortality in their 
ranks. As an evidence of this, consider the 
terrible condition of their army at Vicksburg 
when that place capitulated to the Union forces 
in the summer of 1863. They are the victims 
of all sorts of diseases, and die in thousands. 



76 THE YANKEE CONSCRIPT; OR, 



CHAPTER IV. 

Martial Law in Arkansas — Hunting Conscripts with Blood- 
hounds — Arrival of Troops from Texas — Buying Leather 
— Major Lewis and his Negro Wife — Southern Slanders of 
Northern, Ladies — Amalgamation — Jim Lane — Suspicious 
Characters — Return to Texas — Martial Law in Texas — 
Passes — Plans of Union Men to Escape— Oath of Allegi- 
ance — Ln a Trap, and how to get out of it. 

At the time we were in Arkansas, the State 
was under martial law. Conscripts were being 
gathered for the army in the counties through 
which we passed on our way to Arkadelphia. 
Many poor fellows had fled to the mountains, 
but they afforded a poor refuge to the fugitives, 
for they were mercilessly pursued by blood- 
hounds. In Murfreesboro' I saw a long list of 
names, and descriptions of the men who fled 
from that county. Thirty dollars reward was 
offered for every one brought in. In Clarke 
county a different and more effectual plan of 
catching the delinquents was adopted. The 
inhabitants of the mountainous districts who 
were suspected' of harboring the fugitives, 
were arrested, tried, found guilty, and con- 
demned to death. Pardon was promised on 



EIGHTEEN MONTHS IN DIXIE. 77 

one condition. They were to return to their 
homes under an escort of soldiers, and if they 
could entrap and secure the conscripts, they 
would be pardoned. The plan succeeded. 
Thirteen of the " skedaddlers " were caught 
and brought in. 

During our stay in Arkansas, there were 
frequent arrivals of troops from Texas. I in- 
quired of them very frequently as to whether 
they were enforcing the conscript law in Texas. 
They uniformly replied that it was not being 
enforced when they left. From all the informa- 
tion I could gather, I concluded that, owing to 
the determined opposition which had been 
shown against the law in a great many coun- 
ties, it would probably be a dead letter in 
Texas ; or that if it should be enforced at all, 
it would at least be after the lapse of a consid- 
erable time, perhaps several months. I con- 
cluded that I might safely go back to Texas 
and sell the remainder of my property. This 
determination cost me trouble, as we shall 
afterwards see. 

I procured a load of leather in Arkadelphia 
with much difficulty. Hindman had impressed 
some of the yards, and the owners of others 
were not willing to sell leather to dealers who 
would take it out of the State. I finally sue- 



78 THE YANKEE CONSCRIPT; OR, 

ceeded in procuring a load, however, and pre- 
pared to return to Texas. 

When my brother went to Arkadelphia at 
first, he stopped on his way to and from that 
place with a certain Major Lewis, who kept a 
house of entertainment. He told me of the 
Major on his return, and remarked that he 
believed that that notable official was the hus- 
band of a negro wife. The Major was the 
only white person about the house; and the 
woman in question, who, from her appearance, 
was up in forty, was dressed in a most lady- 
like manner, acted the part of mistress of the 
establishment, and ordered the domestics about 
with an assumption of authority which indi- 
cated that she was no ordinary personage. In 
settling his bill in the morning, the Major 
could not make the change. He called the 
ebony mistress of the establishment to him, 
and speaking to her kindly and winningly, as 
any dutiful husband should, told her to make 
the change, which she did. 

On Saturday morning, the 12th, we were 
within a short distance of the Major's. Be- 
maining over until Monday, we obtained the 
history of this man from "the planter from 
whom we procured pasturage. He was from 
Tennessee, in which State he had a white wife 
and several children, mostly grown up. He 



EIGHTEEN MONTHS IN DIXIE. 79 

left his wife and family, came to Arkansas, and 
bought land and negroes. After a few years, 
he sold land, negroes and all, not even reserv- 
ing his black wife. When the purchaser came 
to take possession, the Major refused to give up 
his wife, and offered to buy her back again ; 
but he had to pay dearly for his treasure, for 
the new master, knowing the state of affairs, 
refused to take less than three thousand dollars 
for her, which sum the Major was obliged to 
pay. Having become somewhat interested in 
this man's history, we made it convenient to 
stop and get dinner at his establishment. It 
was about two o'clock in the afternoon when 
we stopped and ordered dinner ; but we did not 
have to wait long. It was soon ready. The 
black mistress of ceremonies presided at the 
table, and was exceedingly affable and talka- 
tive. She made many apologies for the hasty 
manner in which the dinner was prepared. 
Her dress, manners, and conversation were 
courtly, and had it not been for the blackness 
of her face, she would have passed for a lady 
anywhere. 

It has always been the great delight of 
Southerners to accuse the people of the North 
of favoring negro equality and amalgamation. 
Many of the speakers who overran Texas 
before the ordinance of secession was passed, 



80 

affirmed that while traveling in the free States 
they frequently saw negro men paying their 
attentions to young ladies of the best classes of 
society — even to the daughters of clergymen; 
and that they seemed to prefer the society of 
such men to that of men of their own color. 
Such falsehoods are so transparent that they 
defeat their own object. Nobody believes them. 
"What I have just stated is of no uncommon 
occurrence. Amalgamation is notorious in the 
South. Many of the slaves are almost white. 
In passing along the streets of any of the 
Southern towns, on a pleasant Sabbath after- 
noon, you will meet with large numbers of 
females belonging to this class, many of them 
having but few traces of negro blood, and 
richly clad in the highest style of fashion. It 
is not difficult to tell how they get these things. 
During the summer of 1862, many suspicions 
and much alarm were occasioned by large num- 
bers of men coming into the State in squads of 
two, three, four and five at a time. They 
generally stopped in the counties bordering on 
or near to Eed river. They represented them- 
selves to be Missouri secessionists, but many 
thought they were connected with a secret 
expedition about to be undertaken by Jim 
Lane of Kansas. It was believed that Lane 
would come down through the western part of 



EIGHTEEN MONTHS IN DIXIE. 81 

the Indian Territory and attack the Eangers 
on the frontier, and that when forces should be 
called for to repel him, these men would volun- 
teer, procure arms, and then, when a fitting 
opportunity should present itself, they would 
go over in a body to Lane, and thus enable 
him to overrun the greater part of the State. 

We crossed over into Bowie county on the 
22d. On the following day we reached Clarks- 
ville, the capital of Ked River county. When 
within a short distance of the town, we were 
halted and commanded to show our passes. 
We neither had passes nor supposed we needed 
them. When the guards learned that our 
residence was in the State, we were allowed to 
pass on. We were, however, obliged to pro- 
cure passes before leaving Clarksville. This 
was the first intimation we had that martial 
law was in force in Texas. On the 24th, we 
passed through Paris, the capital of Lamar 
county ; from thence to Honey Grove, where I 
had ordered the tombstones ; thence to Bon- 
ham, the capital of Fannin county. In the 
latter place I disposed of my load of leather. 
We then passed on to the place where we 
sheared our sheep, and remained two days. 
While in this place, a friend informed me of a 
secret plan by which he and about sixty others 
6 



82 THE YANKEE CONSCRIPT; OR, 

intended to escape out of the State and go to 
Missouri. I was invited to join them, and 
readily consented to do so. 

The plan was this : — Each man was to be 
well armed and mounted. All were to start in 
company. It was to be given out that we were 
going to Missouri to enlist under the rebel 
general Coffee. If we should be suspected, and 
an effort made to stop us, we were to fight our 
way out. The company not intending to start 
before a week, and martial law not being in 
force in Fannin, Grayson, and Collin counties, 
and not, as I supposed, in Denton, I determined 
to go and put up the gravestones, and, if pos- 
sible, sell the remainder of my property. I left 
Fannin on Monday, the 28th, intending to 
return during the latter part of the week. I 
arrived at the residence of my father-in-law on 
Tuesday evening. It was a complete surprise 
to the family, for they were fully persuaded 
that I would escape to the Union lines while in 
Arkansas. This was the general belief in the 
entire community. People had very little 
notion of the danger I would have incurred 
in such an attempt. Scouts were out every 
where. Conscripts were pursued by blood- 
hounds ; and had I made the attempt and been 
captured, I would most likely have been shot 
as a deserter. 



EIGHTEEN MONTHS IN DIXIE. 83 

I soon learned that martial law was in force 
in Denton, and that all from sixteen to sixty 
were obliged to take the " Oath of Allegiance" 
to the Southern Confederacy ; that all enrolled 
under the conscript law were required to meet 
the deputy enrolling officer in Denton on 
Saturday, the second day of August, to receive 
instructions as to when and where they should 
meet Captain Schneider, the proper enrolling 
officer, who was then at Owensville, Eobertson 
county, where a camp of instruction was estab- 
lished; and, moreover, that no person was 
allowed to leave the county without a pass. 

Here was a dilemma. Had I entertained the 
least suspicion that the county was under mar- 
tial law, I would on no consideration have ven- 
tured to return. I was in, however, and had 
to make the best of it. My first resolve was to 
be off again immediately, and I would have 
started that very night, had it not been for the 
advice of my father-in-law, who dissuaded me 
from the attempt by saying that if caught I 
would be dealt with as a deserter. He thought 
it would be better for me to stay a day or two, 
tell some plausible story of my intentions, stay 
away from Denton, and then I might probably 
be able to leave the county on my Clarksville 
pass. This I concluded to do. 

The next morning I went to my farm, and 



84 THE YANKEE CONSCRIPT; OR, 

thence to Bolivar, where I fell in company with 
one of the provost guards, who appeared very 
glad to see me back. He remarked that many 
had supposed that I would not return ; but that 
he would not believe any such surmises, for, as 
my property was in the county, 1 would not 
leave without selling it. I replied that I was a 
truer man to my country than those who took 
occasion to talk against me ; that if it had been 
my desire to escape to the North, I could easily 
have done so while I was in Arkansas ; that I 
was not that kind of a man ; that I had made 
the South my home; and that my property 
was in the South, and I was going to fight for 
it. He asked me if I was not liable to con- 
scription. I replied that I was. Whether I 
had been conscripted? I replied that I had 
not. What was I going to do about it ? To 
which I replied that efforts were making to 
raise a company of cavalry in Fannin county, 
to join General Pike in the Choctaw Nation ; 
that they were offering fifty dollars bounty to 
each volunteer ; and that I was going back to 
Fannin county to join the company, as I pre- 
ferred to be connected with a cavalry regiment. 
This appeared to satisfy him very well. He 
also made some inquiries respecting my brother, 
which I answered to his satisfaction. 

From Bolivar I went to Luginbyhl's. Tup- 



EIGHTEEN MONTHS IN DIXIE. 85 

per and Christian Luginbyhl had both been 
conscripted, but were hoping to be exempted 
when the conscripts should meet in Denton on 
the following Saturday. I remained over night 
with the Luginbyhl brothers, and next morn- 
ing went back to the house of my father- 
in-law, intending to return on the following 
day to Fannin. But the net was tightening 
around me. On that very day, in the evening, 
I was waited on by two of the provost guards, 
one of them the man with whom I had con- 
versed the day before. He stated that he had 
been informed by a man who came into 
Bolivar about fifteen minutes after I had left to 
go to Luginbyhl's, that I was going North to 
join the Union army, and that I must at once 
be taken to Denton and required to take the 
oath of allegiance. " I paid no attention to it," 
said he, " for I knew that the man was actuated 
by enmity. To-day I was notified again by 
another man, who threatened that if I did not 
attend to the matter at once, / would be 
attended to : and now I want to see your pass." 
I produced it. After reading it, he said that I 
would be obliged to go to Denton and be con- 
scripted, and then get a pass from the Provost 
Marshal in order to go to the company I 
wished to join. "Get your horse," said he, 
" and we will accompany you there." Appear- 



86 THE YANKEE CONSCRIPT; OR, 

ing as cool as possible, in order to prevent sus- 
picion, I replied that I was a truer man to my 
country lb an those who had slandered me ; 
that what they reported was a base and 
malicious falsehood, and that I was ready to go 
with them at once ; and I began immediately 
to prepare to go along with them to Denton. 
"When they saw that I was willing to go with 
them at once, they said that as it was late in 
the evening, and the distance to Denton seven 
miles, and as it looked rather bad for' neigh- 
bors to lead me into town as though I was 
unwilling to go, they would trust to my honor 
and honesty, if I would promise to go by my- 
self in the morning. This I agreed to do, and 
they left. They were both Union men at heart, 
as I verily believe, but were compelled to be, 
like many others, secessionists from the teeth 
out. Early on Friday morning I set out for 
Denton according to my promise, fully per- 
suaded that I could, without any difficulty, 
procure a pass to go to Fannin. To my sad 
disappointment, I was unable to get one ; and 
worse still; was conscripted and compelled to 
take the oath of allegiance* 

All the conscripts were notified to meet the 

*The subjoined form is almost word for word with the 
original. 



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87 



No. . 

Age, 27. 

Height, 5 feet 8 inches. 
Eyes, Grey. 
Hair, Dark. 



88 



EIGHTEEN MONTHS IN DIXIE. 89 

deputy, F. A. Leach, in Denton, on the follow- 
ing day, and receive instructions as to when 
and where they should meet Captain Schneider, 
the enrolling officer. I was told that I could 
then get a pass from him to go to Fannin and 
join the company of cavalry, as I desired. I 
returned home with a sad heart, resolving, 
however, to do the best I could under the cir- 
cumstances. I returned to Denton on the fol- 
lowing morning, still hoping for better success, 
but was doomed to disappointment again. 
Many of the conscripts had been trying to get 
passes to go and join volunteer companies ; but 
not a pass could they procure. " You must go 
to the camp of instruction," said Leach to all 
the applicants ; " I have no authority to grant 
passes. They must be procured from Captain 
Schneider." Seeing the ill success of others, I 
concluded that it was of no use for me to try. 
T upper and Christian Luginbyhl each procured 
miller's certificates of exemption, according to 
the provisions of the conscript law then in 
force. Luginbyhl showed me his. That cer- 
tificate afterwards saved my life, and was the 
means of my escape from Dixie. 



90 THE YANKEE CONSCRIPT; OR, 



CHAPTER Y. 

Still in the Trap — Captain. Schneider— Captain Wells — Con- 
scrips vs. Volunteers — Captain Welch — Marching — Dallas 
Fair Grounds — Arrest of a Volunteer — Prejudice against 
Foreigners — Camanche and Texan Feats of Horseman- 
ship — Preference for the Cavalry Service. 

I WAS notified, with the 'rest of the conscripts, 
to report at Wetherford, on the 5th of August, 
to Captain Schneider, who was on his way 
from Owensville with a number of conscripts, 
intending to make Wetherford a camp of 
instruction. We repaired to Wetherford on 
the day appointed, but Captain Schneider was 
not there. Leach had received a letter from 
him the day before, informing him that the 
camp was to be changed to Fort Worth, Far- 
rant county. Leach countermanded the order, 
and we were sent back to our homes and 
directed to report at Fort Worth on the 15th. 

During this time my brother came from 
Fannin to see me, knowing that something 
must be wrong, for I had confidently expected 
to return to that county the same week that I 
left it, to go to Missouri with the company of 
men which I have already mentioned. Seeing 



EIGHTEEN MONTHS IN DIXIE. 91 

how matters stood, and observing that I was 
considerably embarrassed at my prospects, "he 
endeavored to encourage me by saying that the 
war would probably soon be over ; for as soon 
as the North could bring the six hundred thou- 
sand new recruits into the field, they would 
soon crush the rebellion. He thought I would 
probably never be required to leave the State. 
He said that he was going to begin in a few 
days to buy wool for the Vicksburg market ; 
and whenever he sold it, he would obtain a 
beef contract for the supply of the army. We 
had been offered a contract while in Arkadel- 
phia, but did not at that time choose to take it. 
During the few days which I had to my- 
self before reporting at Fort Worth, being 
afraid I would not be permitted to return on 
furlough, and desiring to dispose of my land, I 
went to Denton and employed a lawyer to 
draw up a "power of attorney," authorizing 
my brother to sell both of my farms. " A 
bird in the hand is worth two in the bush," 
says the old proverb ; so I thought, and there- 
fore determined to dispose of my property to 
the best advantage, feeling assured that, though 
it would not be finally lost to me, (for I can not 
doubt the final success of the Union arms,) the 
rebels would appropriate it to their own use 



92 THE YANKEE CONSCKIPT ; OK, 

if I should desert, which I was fully deter- 
mined to do at the earliest opportunity. 

On the 15th I reported to Captain Schneider, 
who had arrived at Fort Worth with conscripts 
from Kobertson, Limestone, Freestone, and 
some of the adjoining counties. Two drill 
officers and a drummer boy accompanied him, 
all of them being Germans, and speaking 
English very imperfectly. Captain Schneider 
had been a wholesale merchant of Galveston, 
and was the best drilled officer in the State. 
He had drilled a company in Galveston for 
eight years. He was a German by birth, as 
his name indicates, took part in the Revolution 
of 1848, and fought under General Sigel, with 
whom he is personally acquainted. He was 
commissioned by the rebel government to 
enroll the conscripts in twenty-one counties of 
the State of Texas, and drill them so that they 
should be ready for duty at any time. After 
the enrollment of the conscripts of Denton 
county, and before they reported to Captain 
Schneider at Fort Worth, Captain Otis G. 
Welch, a lawyer of Denton county, who had 
been for some time in the service, and had par- 
ticipated in the battle of Pea Ridge, returned 
home on furlough with a part of his men. 
Some of the conscripts, not being able to pro- 



EIGHTEEN" MONTHS IN DIXIE. 93 

cure passes to go and join volunteer companies, 
took it upon themselves to join the company of 
Captain Wetah, and failed, therefore, to report 
k to Captain Schneider at Fort Worth. Schnei- 
der, on being informed of their volunteering, 
and of their refusal to report to him as 
directed, was nettled, and affirmed that he 
could pick a man from among the conscripts as 
good as himself, and that they two could go 
and take the men and march them to the camp. 
He had heard such boasts before, and knew 
what they amounted to. He asserted that 
Welch had made himself liable to a court-mar- 
tial, for it was against the laws of the Confed- 
erate States for a conscript to volunteer, or for 
any officer to receive conscripts as volunteers. 
The volunteers, on their part, affirmed that 
Syohneider could not muster men enough to 
take them ; while he vowed that he would 
have every man of them, though it should 
require a whole brigade to take one man. The 
dispute came very near ending in bloody work, 
as we shall presently see. 

Schneider had his camp of instruction at 
Fort Worth from the 15th of August to the 2d 
of September. We were drilled twice a day. 
At break of day every morning we were awak- 
ened by a few taps of the drum. Fifteen min- 



94 THE YANKEE CONSCRIPT; OR, 

utes were allowed to rise, wash, and dress. 
Then the drum beat for roll-call. After-roll 
call, we were marched out and drilled for two 
hours before breakfast — exercise enough, one 
would think, to whet ■ a man's appetite. Our 
rations consisted of beef and flour. The flour 
was mixed with water, kneaded, and baked in 
a flat cake. Sometimes we received a little 
bacon and Confederate coffee. The flour was 
almost alive with woolly worms of all sizes, 
from very small ones up to those of an inch in 
length ; and, incredible as it may seem, we were 
obliged to keep the sacks tied to prevent them 
from working the flour out. To make the 
matter still worse, not a seive could be pro- 
cured, and we were obliged to make use of this 
strange kind of '* shortening" to a much greater 
extent than was at all desirable! When one 
of our cakes was broken in pieces, the head 
and tail of many a well-baked creeper parted 
to meet no more. Cooking utensils being 
scarce, we were obliged to have large messes. 
Often from sixteen to twenty- five were put in 
one mess. There was not a tent in the en- 
campment. All slept under the open canopy 
of heaven, with no covering except the blank- 
ets which the conscripts themselves were 
obliged to provide. We got along very well 



EIGHTEEN MONTHS IN DIXIE. 95 

in dry weather, but in wet weather it was 
exceedingly uncomfortable, and the discontent 
of the men found expression in terrible oaths 
and curses. 

Our drilling took place in the morning and 
evening, occupying about two hours each time. 
By this plan we avoided the excessive heat of 
midday. The roll was called three times a 
day, before drill in the morning, after drill in 
the evening, and at nine o'clock P. M. From 
the time I reported at Fort Worth until the 
14th of September, I endeavored to work my- 
self into favor with the Captain, and succeeded 
so well that I obtained furloughs on two differ- 
ent occasions to return to "Denton to attend to 
my property. My second furlough was dated 
August 30. The Captain informed me that he 
intended to leave Fort Worth on the 2d of 
September, and establish his camp at Britten 
Springs on Big Elm, in Denton county, and 
instructed me to report at that place on the 6th 
of September. During the time of this fur- 
lough, I fortunately found a purchaser and sold 
my farm on Duck Creek. 

Schneider arrived at Britten Springs on the 
4th of September. He passed through the 
town of Denton on his way, and came very 
near losing his life in a difficulty growing out 



96 THE YANKEE CONSCRIPT; OR, 

of the volunteering business before mentioned. 
On the previous day, Captain Wells, from Ari- 
zona, who had been sent out by Governor Bay- 
lor to procure volunteers, arrived in Denton, 
and posted bills in various places, offering great 
inducements to volunteers who should enlist in 
the cavalry under Governor Baylor. "Wells 
was commissioned to recruit four thousand 
men, who were to serve as guerillas. They 
were to be paid the same wages as other volun- 
teers, and, as an additional inducement, they 
were offered a full share of all the booty and 
plunder which should fall into their hands. 
Schneider promptly tore the bills down, Wells 
not being in town at the time. The act was no 
sooner done that two of Welch's men stepped 
up to Schneider and remarked that they had 
been informed that he had been making loud 
boasts that he could easily take the conscripts 
who had volunteered whenever he pleased, &c. 
They said that they would inform him once for 
all that though he ivas Captain Schneider, he 
could not and should not take the men who 
had volunteered in their company. One of the 
fellows presented a pistol and swore that if he 
undertook to apprehend them he would be a 
dead man, while the other stood by and urged 
and encouraged his companion to shoot the 



EIGHTEEN MONTHS IN DIXIE. 97 

d d Dutchman. Such was the very warm 

reception the captain received in Denton. 

I reported at Britten Springs on the 6th of 
September. The Springs are only four miles 
from Denton. Schneider was not, therefore, 
beyond the reach of annoyance from Welch's 
men. Very soon after my arrival, a squad of 
these desperate and reckless fellows paid a visit 
to our camp, well armed with revolvers and 
bowie knives. They rode all through the camp 
and around the Captain's office, and tried in 
every way to create a disturbance, so that they 
might have the satisfaction of shooting the 
Dutchman, as they contemptuously called him. 

On the day following his arrival at Britten 
Springs, the Captain sent an order to the Pro- 
vost Marshal of Cook county, to the effect that 
all the conscripts of that county should report 
to him at that place. 

Captain Wells, whose bills Schneider had 
torn down jn Denton, returned on Saturday, 
and on hearing of the affair was greatly en- 
raged. On Sunday he and the same squad of 
men who had paid us a visit the day before, 
returned to the camp. Schneider was absent at 
the time of their arrival. Wells mounted a 
stump a short distance from the Captain's office, 
and made a speech to the conscripts. He told 
7 



98 THE YANKEE CONSCRIPT; OR, 

us that the conscripts of Denton county had 
been illegally enrolled ; that Schneider had no 
authority to deputize Leach to enroll the county, 
and that every man who had been enrolled by 
Leach might legally volunteer. He indulged 
in sundry invectives against foreigners, espe- 
cially the Dutch, and gave it as his opinion 
that America should be ruled by Americans. 
Before he finished his speech Schneider arrived, 
and ordered the drum to be beat to call the 
men together. Few obeyed the call until the 
speaker concluded. When he had finished his 
speech, Wells presented a paper for the pur- 
pose of obtaining the names of such as desired 
to volunteer, instructing them to meet him at 
Beale's Station, a place about one hundred 
miles west of Britten Springs, where Baylor 
had collected about two thousand men. He 
told the men that every one who volunteered 
would be protected, and said he wanted no man 
who had not energy enough to fight his way to 
the place of rendezvous Wells procured many 
volunteers, for the men were very much dissat- 
isfied with the way in which Schneider and 
Leach conducted the business of conscription. 
Schneider deputized Leach to attend to the 
matter in Denton county, and promised to pay 
him a certain stipulated sum for each man 



EIGHTEEN MONTHS IN DIXIE. 99 

enrolled. Leach, in order to make a profitable 
job of it, desired to enroll as many as possible, 
and therefore failed to give the usual notifica- 
tion to those subject to conscription, so as to 
give them an opportunity to volunteer if they 
preferred to do so. He directed the Provost 
Marshal to notify all who were subject to con- 
scription to meet him in Denton, conscripted 
them all, and then directed them to meet him 
again in Denton on the 2d of August, and he 
would give such of them as desired to volun- 
teer passes, in order that they might go and 
join the regiments of their choice, making 
them believe that they could volunteer as well- 
after being conscripted as before. 

In the mean time, he sent in the roll of the 
conscripts, and immediately received orders to 
grant no passes, and to direct the men to meet 
at the general rendezvous, as already men- 
tioned. After Wells had presented his paper 
and obtained some volunteers, he and all of us 
repaired to Captain Schneider's office. Schnei- 
der attacked Wells immediately for coming to 
his camp and inducing his men to volunteer 
after they were conscripted. Wells replied 
that if Schneider had not torn down his bills 
in Denton he would not have troubled him ; to 
which Schneider replied that he was right in 



100 THE YANKEE CONSCRIPT; OR, 

doing as he had done ; that he had authority to 
appoint Leach«as his deputy to enroll the con- 
scripts of Denton county; and to confirm his 
word, he pulled out his papers, which showed 
that he had authority to appoint a deputy. 
One word brought on another. Wells made 
use of most violent and abusive language. 
"Welch's men again rode through the camp like 
a set of clowns, performing all sorts of antics, 
and roundly cursing the Dutch Captain, calling 
upon him to show himself if he dared, and 
swearing that they would ride over him if he 
dared to take the men who had enlisted in 
their company; and vowed that if he made the 
attempt they would take his heart's blood. 
They finally left for Denton, but hinted that 
they would make it convenient to call again. 

Soon after they left, Captain Schneider made 
a short speech to the men. He told us that if 
he had felt persuaded that we would have stuck 
to him and assisted him, he would never have 
permitted the saucy fellows to carry on as they 
had done. "They knew," said he, "that we 
had no arms to defend ourselves, or they would 
have been more sparing of their braggadocias. 
To have used my side arms alone against so 
many would only have made matters worse. 
It was just what they wanted." Schneider at 



EIGHTEEN MONTHS IN DIXIE. 101 

once determined to remove the camp to Dallas, 
in Dallas county, where part of a regiment was 
stationed. At that place he knew he would 
have an opportunity to borrow arms, and he 
determined, if his troublesome neighbors should 
pay him another visit, to take them prisoners 
and have them court-martialed for disorderly 
conduct. 

The next morning, about two o'clock, we 
were awakened by the beat of the drum, in 
order to prepare breakfast, pack up, and get 
ready to start at daylight. When the time 
arrived, we had our wagons loaded with our 
cooking utensils and the scanty stock of pro- 
visions we had on hand, and at once set out on 
our march to Dallas, a distance of fifty miles. 
Captain Schneider, leaving the conscripts in 
charge of the drill officers, went forward with 
a mounted body guard, intending to reach Dal- 
las on the evening of the same day. We were 
ordered to encamp the following night at Wit's 
Mill, on the Trinity river, a distance of thirty 
miles from our camp at Britten Springs. Each 
man had to carry his own baggage, clothing, 
and bedding, weighing from thirty to sixty 
pounds. It was the first whole day I had 
marched. In the afternoon it rained, making 
marching much more difficult. Towards even- 



102 THE YANKEE CONSCRIPT; OR, 

ing a few, including myself, gave out, and bad 
we not been favored a little, we would not bave 
reached the mill that day. We fortunately 
found shelter in vacant bouses during the night 
by crowding in as thickly as possible. After 
all, however, I was a little unlucky. Our mess 
consisted of sixteen men. We cooked in turn, 
two at a time. By this arrangement, I was 
cook every eighth day. My turn fell on this 
day, and after a hard march of thirteen hours, 
I and my fellow unfortunate were obliged to 
get supper for our mess. It was ten o'clock 
before we finished our work ; and in the morn- 
ing we had to be up two hours before day, so 
as to have breakfast over and be ready to 
march again by daylight. 

We reached Dallas on the 9th, about two 
o'clock P. M., but did not stop long in the 
town. The Captain conducted us out of the 
town about two miles east, near to the Fair 
grounds, where we rested for the night, with- 
out any protection from the rain, which was 
falling fast, and gave us a good soaking before 
morning. The Captain told me that Denton 
was the third county from which he had been 
driven in the process of enrolling the conscripts. 
He said that the other two were in good part 
wooded counties, and that in going on before 



EIGHTEEN MONTHS IN DIXIE. 103 

his men, he was obliged to carry his revolver 
in his hand ready for nse in a moment, to 
defend himself against bushwhackers along the 
route. He assigned two reasons for such oppo- 
sition, ^-hatred of conscription and personal 
enmity to himself on the ground of his being a 
German. 

On the following day, the Captain selected 
the Fair grounds as a camp, and then went to 
Dallas in a wagon, and borrowed a quantity of 
arms for the conscripts. He kept a guard on 
duty day and night, for fear of Captains Welch 
and Wells and their men, who, thinking they 
had run him out of Denton, would probably 
try to do the same at Dallas. 

The area of the Fair grounds consisted of 
about five acres, enclosed by a good stout 
plank fence, about eight feet in height. The 
grounds contained a fine, substantial building, 
forty feet long by twenty-five wide, and two 
stories high. On the front of the upper story 
there was a porch facing the ring, with a flight 
of steps descending from the porch to the 
ground. The upper story was divided into 
two apartments for the exhibition of ladies' 
works of art. The lower story was kept for a 
room in which to exhibit horses. A little dis- 
tance from this building stood another, in the 



104 THE YANKEE CONSCRIPT; OR, 

form of a crescent. In the center was the 
judge's office, with a very handsome portico 
fitted up for the accommodation of a band of 
musicians. The tiers of seats on each side of 
the judge's office would accommodate six hun- 
dred persons. Better arrangements were made 
for the accommodation of spectators than in 
any other grounds I ever saw. The whole 
must have cost many thousands of dollars, for 
the pine lumber had to be hauled by ox teams 
a distance of one hundred and twenty-five 
miles, from the eastern part of the State. 

When the Captain had occasion to go to 
Dallas, he no longer went on horseback and 
alone, as he had been accustomed to do while 
we remained in the vicinity of Fort Worth, but 
he went in a wagon, taking five or six men 
along with him. It was not difficult to guess 
the reason. He was afraid of being waylaid 
and assassinated if he went alone. Before 
leaving the old camp, he wrote to the Provost 
Marshal of Cook county, directing him to in- 
struct the conscripts of that county to report to 
him at Dallas instead of Britten Springs. The 
letter did not arrive in time. Some of the con- 
scripts went to Britten Springs at the time first 
appointed, and not finding Schneider there, 
returned to their homes and swore they would 



EIGHTEEN MONTHS IN DIXIE. 105 

report no more. Some who were notified by 
the Provost Marshal, and who, therefore, report- 
ed at Dallas, brought this intelligence. 

On Thursday, the 11th, I and some of my 
messmates were in Dallas, in company with 
Captain Schneider. It happened that the Cap- 
tain fell in with the very man who so grossly 
insulted him in Denton, and who tried to urge 
his companion to shoot him. As soon as 
Schneider saw him, he got out a writ and 
caused him to be arrested and put into the 
guard-house. There was danger in effecting 
the arrest, and as I had no object in exposing 
myself to danger, and only desired to effect my 
escape, I and my messmate strolled carelessly 
out of town, and remained until we had reason 
to believe the affair was over. When we 
returned, the chap was safely secured in the 
guard-house, with an armed sentinel watching 
the door; while a crowd of spectators had 
collected and were peering curiously at the 
prisoner. Just as we reached the door, one of 
the officers belonging to the regiment which 
was stationed at Dallas, came up and made a 
mark the width of the house and pavement, 
and directed the sentinel to allow no one, not 
even an officer, to pass over the line. If any 
man should step over, the soldier was directed 



106 

to halt him, present bayonet, and if, when 
ordered to step back, he refused to do so, he 
was to be bayoneted on the spot. Schneider 
was not present when the mark was made and 
the order given, but soon returned. Not notic- 
ing the mark, and knowing nothing of the 
order, he walked up carelessly, as though he 
intended to enter the guard-house. He wus 
soon brought to a halt and compelled to 
retreat, not without some mortification on 
his part, for it seemed to please some of the 
bystanders, one of whom remarked that that 
was the way he liked to see the d — d Dutch- 
man made to stand about. 

There was a general desire on the part of 
most of the Texans to enlist in the cavalry 
branch of the service. They are among the 
best horsemen in the world, perhaps unexcelled 
by any except the Camanche Indians, their 
neighbors, who are unrivaled in their feats of 
horsemanship. It is asserted that these wild 
sons of the plains will sometimes gallop through 
settlements on the frontier, and, watching their 
opportunity, will swoop past a house at which 
they may chance to see children playing, grasp 
a child by the hair, run a knife around the 
head above the ears, and with a sudden jerk 
pluck the scalp from the scull, all in a few 



EIGHTEEN MONTHS IN DIXIE. 107 

seconds, and while their horses are at full gal- 
lop. The Texans are not much behind them. 
I have seen men riding around a circle at full 
speed, and picking a hat, and in one case half 
a dollar, from the ground, without slackening 
their velocity. The stock-herders, being a 
good portion of their time m the saddle, are 
especially expert; many of them throw the 
lasso with as much precision as Mexicans or 
Spaniards. They can easily cast it over the 
horns of a wild cow while running at full 
speed. Many of them are as restless and 
nomadic in their habits and mode of life as the 
Arabs of the Desert. Among such men, it was 
not difficult to procure plenty of volunteers at 
the beginning of the war. Each man supplied 
his own uniform, horse, and equipage, for 
which he was allowed from one hundred to 
two hundred and fifty dollars, according to a 
fair valuation, and was then paid at the rate of 
twenty-seven dollars per month. 



108 THE YANKEE CONSCRIPT; OR, 



CHAPTER VI. 

Volunteering at the Beginning of the War— More Calls for 
3Ien, and less Inclination to Respond — Plans to Prevent 
an Outbreak, in Texas — Filling acquisitions for 3Ien — 
Speeches to Encourage the Conscripts— Guarding against 
Muting — Rebel Destitution — Negroes — Tlieir Sentiments — 
Their Numbers. 

At the commencement of the war, men were 
called out and enlisted for one year. It was 
confidently expected that there would not be 
more than one or two little battles, and the 
soldiers were made to believe they would very 
soon be permitted to return home, and could 
draw pay for one year. I do not think that 
the leaders of the rebellion participated in 
these views, but they found it very convenient 
to make the masses believe so. Their scheme 
was well and deeply laid; and to accomplish 
it, it seemed as though they would move 
heaven and earth. Such views being com- 
monly entertained and industriously circulated, 
thousands of men were induced to volunteer at 
the outbreak of the war. But thousands more 
were needed. Call succeeded call, until men 



EIGHTEEN MONTHS IN DIXIE. 109 

ceased to wonder; and, what was worse for the 
Confederates, few responded to the calls. The 
want of men became pressing, and it was 
found necessary to resort to other means to 
procure them. It was given out that there 
would be a draft in a very short time, if the 
quotas of the different counties were not filled 
up by volunteering. This induced many to 
volunteer ; and when the streams of volunteers 
again began to fail, an inducement of fifty dol- 
lars was offered, and men were still permitted 
to enter the service as cavalrymen, with the 
pay of twenty -seven dollars per month. 

We shall soon see how the rebel leaders 
kept faith with their dupes. All these plans 
finally failed to fill up the depleted ranks of 
their army, and they were obliged to resort' to 
conscription. The State was divided into dis- 
tricts of about twenty-one counties each. Each 
district was assigned to an enrolling officer. 
To guard against rebellion, the conscript law 
was put in force in the southern parts of the 
State first. They then gradually approached 
the northern and north-western parts of the 
State, passing over the Union counties, and 
conscripting in those in which the rebel ele- 
ment predominated. In this way, they gradu- 
ally drew the net around communities in which 



110 THE YANKEE CONSCRIPT ; OR, 

the law could not otherwise have been en- 
forced. Denton being a noted rebel county, 
was enrolled and conscripted for several weeks 
before the adjoining counties. In the town of 
Denton there were but two Union men. On 
Clear creek we were pretty equally divided as 
long as men were allowed to express their sen- 
timents, — some as good Union men as could be 
found anywhere, and some as bitter rebels as 
the Confederacy contained. 

The object of camps of instruction was to 
drill the conscripts, and thus fit them for active 
duty at any time their services should be de- 
manded. Scarcely a week passed without a 
requisition coming from some quarter, and it 
was at once promptly filled. This gave the 
conscripts no choice whatever. We neither 
knew when nor where we should be required 
to go. We were any day liable to be sepa- 
rated from messmates and acquaintances, and 
compelled to go among strangers. W hile we 
were encamped at Fort Worth, a requisition 
was sent to Captain Schneider for a number of 
men, which he filled. While at Britten 
Springs, another requisition was made. Being 
among the fortunate both times, I still re- 
mained in camp. Public speakers very fre- 
quently visited us in camp, and made speeches 



EIGHTEEN MONTHS IN DIXIE. Ill 

to encourage us. The general drift of their 
speeches was that we would not be obliged to 
fight long; that the war would very soon be 
over ; and that the North would very speedily 
acknowledge our independence, and abandon 
their vaunted plan of subjugation. It required 
all the eloquence they were masters of to keep 
the men in good spirits. We had no arms, 
and no prospect of obtaining any soon. We 
were profoundly ignorant of passing events, 
few papers being published in the State, owing 
to the scarcity of paper. And, indeed, what 
were published, were notoriously unreliable. 
Men could not speak the truth or publish the 
truth with safety. Editors and publishers 
pandered to the depraved public taste. I 
never saw but one acknowledgment of defeat, 
and that was at Fort Donelson. Every thing 
else was victory, victory, sometimes followed 
by a retreat, but always in good order. While 
I took the Houston Telegraph, I had the oppor- 
tunity of reading a number of Yallandig ham's 
speeches. Whether or not they were exagger- 
ated reports of his speeches, I am not able to 
say ; this I can say, however, they pleased the 
editor hugely, and he was one of the worst 
secessionists in the State, although a New 
Englander by birth. He always commented 



112 THE YANKEE CONSCRIPT; OR, 

and approved Vallandigham's speeches, and 
recommended them to the careful attention of 
his readers. 

On Sabbath, the 7th day of September, a 
lawyer from McKinney, Robinson by name, 
made a speech to the conscripts. The sub- 
stance of his speech was as follows : " Fellow 
soldiers, cheer up! I have glorious news for 
you. I have had the pleasure of perusing a 
late dispatch, giving an account of a great vic- 
tory at Richmond. It was the greatest battle 
on record. Our soldiers fought with unparal- 
leled bravery. The two armies fought hand 
to hand in the streets, and the dead were piled 
up in some places fifteen feet deep. The Union 
loss is 125,000 men, ours 75,000. Our men 
captured 80,000 stand of small arms, and a 
large number of the enemy's cannon. Glory 
enough in one day ! And as to Lincoln's Pro- 
clamation of Emancipation, it is the best thing 
he could have done for us. There are many 
men in Kentucky and Missouri, and, indeed, 
in all parts of the South, who were wavering. 
It has confirmed them as our friends. They 
see that this war is a war for the negro. Thou- 
sands have espoused our cause who would not 
have done so had it not been for the Proclama- 
tion. We do not intend or expect to whip the 



EIGHTEEN MOXTH§ IX DIXIE. 113 

North. They have the advantage of us in the 
number of men, arms, and munitions of war. 
Our plan is to fight them until they begin to 
fight amongst themselves. From present indi- 
cations, and judging from the speeches of Yal- 
landigham, we will not be obliged to hold out 
long. "When that time comes, they will be 
bound to acknowledge our independence, for 
they cannot fight at home and fight us too. 
All we have to do is to stand firm and show 
them we are united and determined, and inde- 
pendence is ours. Consider for a moment the 
number of men it requires to hold a place after 
they get it. This weakens their army. When 
we abandon a place, all we lose is the place. 
Our army is still concentrated and ready for 
united and vigorous action, whereas theirs is 
necessarily weakened and scattered. Their 
army has been living on us ever since the war 
began ; but I am pleased to see by a late order 
that our mode of warfare is to be changed. 
Instead of trying to hold certain places, we 
will allow them to fall into the hands of the 
Federals, and then march in overwhelming 
force into Pennsylvania and other Northern 
States, destroy their property, burn their towns, 
and lay waste their country. This will compel 
their army to retreat from our soil, and enable 
8 



114 THE YANKEE CONSCRIPT ; OR, 

us to subsist our army in their country. It 
will also stir up a rebellion in the North ; for 
those among them who are opposed to the war 
will cry for peace, and if they do not get it, 
they will rebel." 

It may strike the reader that there are some 
things in this speech that do not comport very 
well with the assertion which is so often made 
in the South, that Northern men are all Abo- 
litionists. They make this assertion to influ- 
ence the poor ignorant masses. The well- 
informed know better. Indeed, some of the 
most tyrannical slaveholders are men of North- 
ern birth. I am personally acquainted with 
some Northern men in Denton who are uncom- 
promising secessionists. Captain Otis G. Welch 
is one of them. 

While on furlough in Denton, I called to see 
one of my neighbors, a very respectable and 
reliable man, who had just arrived from Little 
Rock. He belonged to the army of General 
Hindman, and had been detailed, with some 
others, to bring back a lot of horses belonging 
to the soldiers who had gone from Texas. I 
have already intimated that most of the Texan 
volunteers entered the cavalry branch of the 
service. Forage being very scarce and difficult 
to obtain in that mountainous part of the coun- 



EIGHTEEN MONTHS IN DIXIE. 115 

try, Hindman was compelled to dismount the 
most of his cavalry and put them in regiments 
of infantry, many of them with Arkansas con- 
scripts. Thus the very advantages which in- 
duced them to volunteer were taken away; 
they were deprived of their horses, and their 
wages were reduced to eleven dollars a month. 
Of course the soldiers were bitterly .opposed to 
this new order of things. It was difficult to 
keep down mutiny ; and Hindman was obliged 
to resort to artifice and tricks in order to 
accomplish his purpose. He sent out large 
scouting parties on about quarter rations, and 
kept them scouting over the mountains for 
weeks, with strict orders to neither beg or buy 
any rations while absent from camp. Death 
was the penalty of violating the order. In a 
short time both men and horses were so re- 
duced that they were glad to submit. 

Most of the conscripts were clad in home- 
spun of the coarsest kind. It was all that they 
could obtain. Goods of all descriptions were 
fabulously dear. Indeed, many articles former- 
ly regarded as indispensably necessary, could 
not be procured at all. Previous to the out- 
break of the war, there were five good stores 
in Denton ; at the time of which I speak, there 
was but one, and the goods on hand were of 



116 THE YANKEE CONSCRIPT; OR, 

the poorest kind. The scarcity of goods was 
confined to no particular locality ; it was uni- 
versal. Confederate scrip was' abundant, and 
hence prices were paid for goods which seem 
incredible. A pair of cotton hand-cards, before 
the war, could be bought for seventy -five cents. 
Before I left the State, they were selling readily 
for twenty dollars. The article was scarce and 
the demand great, — hence the highness of the 
price. There were no cotton spinning factories 
in the State, and therefore all the home-made 
goods were manufactured by hand. The musie 
of the cotton cards and the wheel took the .place 
of the piano and the melodeon. Most of the 
ladies joined the "Homespun Society," the 
members of which pledged themselves to wear 
nothing but what was manufactured in the 
Confederacy. They had probably read the 
fable of the fox and the grapes ; when he found 
he could not get them, he pronounced them to 
be sour. I may be judging them harshly, 
however. Most of them had husbands, sons, 
brothers, or lovers in the army, and many an 
appeal for clothing was made to the willing 
workers at home. When the ladies of the 
North are obliged to make all their own cloth- 
ing, pay forty dollars per sack for salt, and pro- 



EIGHTEEN MONTHS IN DIXIE. 117 

portionally as much for every thing else, they 
may then begin to complain of hard times. 

One thing that very materially increased the 
difficulty of procuring an adequate supply of 
clothing, was the great influx of negroes into 
the State. After the beginning of the war, 
thousands were brought in from Missouri, Ken- 
tucky, Tennessee, and other States, to prevent 
their falling into the hands of the Union 
army. So numerous were these " refugees," 
that hundreds of them could have been hired 
for their boarding. It was, I think, a great 
mistake of the slaveholders to introduce so 
large an element from the Border States 
among the slaves of the Gulf States. They 
had learned u a thing or two," and were by no 
means uninterested observers of the great 
movements that were taking place. Insubor- 
dination increased wherever the northern slaves 
were taken. Notions of freedom which they 
had entertained were communicated to others, 
and the whole slave population was in a 
foment. " I wish dat old Lincoln was dead," 
said one of the native slaves belonging to a 
neighbor of mine to another slave recently 
brought from the north. " Now you jis hush 
up," was the reply; " you'll see dat Lincoln will 
free all us darkies." 



118 THE YANKEE CONSCRIPT ; OR, 

The influx of slaves into Texas has been 
great for many years. From 1858 to 1860 
the increase in the value of slave property was 
more than 87 per cent. From 1860 to 1862 
it must have been far greater. I append- a 
statistical table, showing the immense increase 
in the slave population and in the value of 
slave property in one year, 1859. The in- 
crease was much greater after the commence- 
ment of the war. 

This table is authentic, being copied from 
a Texas almanac, which was sent to my father 
in 1860. 



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120 THE YANKEE CONSCRIPT ; OR, 



CHAPTER YII. 

Plans of Escape — Dangers of the Attempt — Send for my 
Brother — Miller's Certificate of Exemption — Feigned 
Sickness — Interview tvith Captain Schneider — Obtain a 
Furlough — Set out for Denton — The Journey — Meet my 
Brother again — Sell the Remainder of my Property — 
Troubles and Dangers of Enrolling Officers — Speculation 
i — Zietter to Captain Schneider — Reflections — Discussion 
about the Miller's Certificate — Schemes to obtain Posses- 
sion of Duginbyhl's Certificate — My Brother's Adventure. 

I never abandoned the intention of escaping 
at the earliest possible moment. Having been 
defeated in my plan of escaping with the com- 
pany who fled to Missouri from Fannin county, 
I at once set to work to devise some other plan 
of escape. I had been conscripted in conse- 
quence of the malicious interference of per- 
sonal enemies, who gloried in their achieve- 
ment, and boasted of their lies. I was bitterly 
opposed to secession and disunion. I was 
maddened by the brutality with which Union 
men were treated. I panted to breathe the air 
of freedom. I had been compelled to take the 
oath of allegiance. I was required to fight 
against my conscience, my friends, and my 



EIGHTEEN MONTHS IN DIXIE. 121 

country. I was called upon to fight against 
freedom and constitutional government; to 
insult and trample upon the glorious flag of 
the Union. This was more than I could bear. 

I determined to be free or die in the attempt. 
I knew the danger that attended such an 
undertaking. I knew that if I made the 
attempt and failed, and was recognized as a 
deserter, death was my doom. The law was 
rigidly enforced; and we were constantly re- 
minded of it. Captain Schneider was very 
careful to guard against mutiny and desertion. 
He read the law every day after roll-call, dwell- 
ing with particular emphasis on that part of it 
which related to mutineers and deserters. Offi- 
cials were not slow to execute it. They did 
not give a man a chance to desert twice. 
Death was the penalty of the first offence. 
After passing many a sleepless night in laying 
plans of escape, I at last adopted an expedient 
which was, if not altogether, at least in good 
part successful. It was this: to get Lugin- 
byhl's miller's certificate of exemption into my 
possession, and then travel into the northern 
part of Arkansas as a miller on business. I 
saw the necessity of acting prudently and 
cautiously, and therefore wrote to my brother, 
telling him to come and see me, as I had some- 



122 THE YANKEE CONSCRIPT; OR, 

thing of importance to tell him. I did not 
dare to say a word about my plan by letter. 
After receiving my letter, he paid me a visit on 
Friday, the 12th. I stated to him the scheme 
that I had laid in order to make my escape. 
After explaining my plan to him, he first 
advised me to wait until I was put into some 
regiment, and then, in time of a battle, or a 
short time before, while the two armies would 
be within a short distance of each other, to 
desert. He said that if I should desert while 
at the camp of instruction, I would have a long 
road to travel through the enemy's country be- 
fore I would reach the lines of the Union army. 
After finding, however, that I was determined 
to desert before I should be put into a regiment, 
he encouraged me in the scheme that I had 
laid, saying that he would not be afraid to try 
it, if he were in my circumstances. After an 
interview of two or three hours, during which 
he did much to encourage me, he started back 
to Denton. 

Ever since I was conscripted, I had endeav- 
ored to win the confidence of Captain Schnei- 
der, in order that I might the more easily 
accomplish my design. My plan was to get a 
furlough to go to Denton, so as to have a few 
days the start. I was fearful, however, that 



EIGHTEEN MONTHS IN DIXIE. 123 

he would deny me, unless 1 could give a very- 
plausible reason for desiring leave of absence. 
I was very successful. I won his entire confi- 
dence, and he called me one of his right hand 
men. He had given no furloughs since he left 
Britten Springs, in consequence of many hav- 
ing abused them. Not a few obtained fur- 
loughs to go and see their friends, as they said, 
but they never returned. Some of them 
probably volunteered under Baylor, and some 
deserted. He therefore refused to issue any 
more furloughs. This was a difficulty which I 
must overcome, if possible. It would, in all 
probability, have been a fatal mistake to set 
out without a furlough. The roll was called 
three times a day ; if a man was not present to 
answer to his name, he would be marked as a 
deserter. To go without a furlough would 
only give a few hours start. He would be 
almost sure to be caught and shot. This being 
the case, I set myself to work to procure one. 
In order to escape suspicion on the part of my 
messmates, I pretended to be unwell. Anxiety 
of mind and loss of sleep were in my favor; 
and I really did look as if something was the 
matter. I ate very little, and went to bed 
before roll-call, at nine o'clock, asking one of 
my companions to say that I was unwell and in 



124 THE YANKEE CONSCRIPT; OR, 

bed. I practiced this deception for about a 
week. On the day after my brother paid me 
a visit, three requisitions were made, one 
of them being for men to go to Galveston. 
The Captain did not intend to fill these requisi- 
tions before the first of the following week. 

On the 14th of September, between eleven 
and twelve o'clock, I saw him sitting at the top 
of the circular building in the Fair grounds. 
He was alone. Concluding that now was my 
chance to ask for a furlough, I went up and 
took a seat beside him. 1 flattered myself 
that I could, introduce the matter in such a way 
as to gain my object. I denounced severely 
the conduct of Captain Welch and his men at 
Britten Springs, and animadverted bitterly on 
the course pursued by Captain Wells, who was 
raising men for Baylor. After talking for 
some time, I remarked that I was very sorry 
on one account that we had left sooner than 
was expected ; I had sold a tract of land con- 
ditionally. My prospective purchaser was to 
let me know on the 8th, the day we left, 
whether he would take it or not. If he had 
concluded to do so, I was to go back to "Denton 
and make him a deed. I went on to state that 
having lost my wife, there was no one to care 
for my property, and I was afraid that if the 



EIGHTEEN MONTHS IN DIXIE. 125 

prairie should take fire, all my improvements 
would be burnt. Finding that he was in an 
obliging mood, I concluded that now was my 
chance, and remarked that I would like very 
much to obtain a furlough to go to Denton and 
dispose of my property. He asked me for 
what length of time I wanted a furlough. I 
replied that I should like to obtain one for a 
week ; that as the distance was fifty-six miles, 
it would take me the greater part of the time 
to go and return, leaving me but a short time 
to attend to the sale of my farm. He rose and 
told me to come down to the office, and he 
would give me a furlough, although he had 
denied others. My feelings may be imagined ; 
I can not express them. I had hardly expected 
to succeed ; others had failed but a few hours 
before. The furlough read as follows : 

FURLOUGH OF ABSENCE. 

Dallas Fair Grounds, Texas, ) 
September 14th, 1862. ) 

I do hereby certify that George A. Fisher has leave of 
absence from the camp of instruction, to report to me 
again on the 20th inst; if not, HE IS TO BE DEALT 
WITH AS A DESERTER. 

CAPTAIN SCHNEIDER, 

Enrolling Officer. 

"To be dealt with as a deserter," was in- 



126 



serted in all the furloughs in capital letters. 
After reading it ; I remarked to the Captain 
that I was unwell, and had been unwell for 
about a week, and that I was afraid that I was 
going to have a turn of fever, the symptoms 
being about the same as about a year ago, 
when I had a severe attack. I told him that if 
I should be taken down with fever, I would 
prefer to remain at the house of my father- 
in-law rather than be sick in camp; and said 
that if I was unable to return by the 20th, I 
would report by letter. While I was in the 
office, he wrote a few lines for me to carry to 
Mr. Hamilton, the owner of a steam flouring- 
mill within a mile of Britten Springs, instruct- 
ing him to draw pay from the Quartermaster 
for the flour which he had furnished to the 
conscripts. 

I started immediately, not taking time to eat 
dinner, still pretending that I was too unwell. 
I traveled sixteen miles that afternoon, and at 
night slept more soundly than for many a 
night before. I made an early start the next 
morning, and arrived at Hamilton's mill about 
sunset, a distance of thirty miles. I delivered 
the letter and passed on, wishing to reach the 
house of my father-in-law that evening. After 
going some distance, the night being cloudy, I 



EIGHTEEN" MONTHS IN DIXIE. 127 

lost my way, and was compelled to lay out all 
night, miles from any human habitation. I 
slept very little, owing to the howling of the 
prairie wolves. I resumed my journey at day- 
break, and reached the house of my father-in- 
law about eight o'clock. Here I very un- 
expectedly met my brother. He had just 
saddled his horse, and would have been off 
in a few minutes for Cook county. He had 
employed some men in that county to go to 
Palo Pinto, on the Brazos, where he had con- 
tracted for a quantity of wool. He had 
arranged that they should return through 
Denton, and that he would forward all that he 
had purchased, about ten thousand pounds in 
all, to Vicksburg. Being greatly pleased to 
see me so soon following him, and thinking it 
might be the last time we would be together, 
he delayed his journey until the ne£t day. . 

I was fortunately able to sell my farm, a few 
horses, and other property, at reduced prices. 
I was glad to sell at any price. I went to Den- 
ton to make the deed. While there I met 
some of Captain Welch's men. They were in 
a terrible passion about their comrade's arrest 
and confinement in the guard-house, as I have 
already related. They were vowing vengeance. 
They said that the Captain and whole company 



128 THE YANKEE CONSCRIPT; OR, 

were intending to go to Dallas the next day, 
and that out of the guard-house their compan- 
ion should and would come ; and they affirmed 
that they would not leave the place until they 
killed the Dutchman (Captain Schneider). I 
never heard the result. I afterwards saw a 
statement in the „papers that five enrolling 
officers had been shot while engaged in con- 
scripting. Schneider may have been one of 
the number. Before leaving town, I called on 
the physician and got a few pills, thinking it 
would do no harm to take a few doses before 
starting on my trip. 

From the time my brother had come from 
Fannin county to see what was detaining me, 
when caught and conscripted, up to the time 
of my leaving camp, he had been engaged in 
buying wool. It afforded a chance for a good 
speculation*. Wool could be bought on the 
Brazos for from twenty-five to thirty cents per 
pound; in Fannin and adjoining counties it 
could be obtained for fifty cents; while in 
Yicksburg it readily sold for one dollar per 
pound. Eeturning from town, he and I spent 
the night together with my father-in-law, a 
night which I think we will never forget. I 
arranged with him that when he returned from 
the Brazos, he should stop and. get two horses 



EIGHTEEN MONTHS IN DIXIE. 129 

which I had not sold. On the next morning, 
Wednesday, the 17th, we bade each other fare- 
well, he going to Cooke county, I to Lugin- 
byhl's, to endeavor by some manceuvering to 
get possession of his certificate of exemption. 
After a few hours' ride I arrived at the place, 
and pretended to be very unwell. While 
there, I sat down and wrote the following letter 
Captain Schneider : 

Clear Creek, Denton County, Texas, ) 
September 17th, 1862. S 

Captain Schneider: 

Sir — I am sorry to inform you that, owing to the bad 
state of my health, I wiH be unable to report to you on 
the 20th inst. This is the judgment of my physician. I 
am under a course of medical treatment, and can not 
safely expose myself to the heat. I hope, however, by 
proper care and treatment, soon to be able to report my- 
self ready for duty. 

Yours respectfully, 

GEORGE A. FISHER. 

Does the reader demand any justification of 
my conduct? I have no hesitation in saying 
that, under ordinary circumstances, the man 
who, by arts and artifices, gains the confidence 
of another and then abuses it, is a heartless and 
unfeeling scoundrel. Under the circumstances 
in which I was placed, however, I felt perfectly 
justifiable in doing as I did. I would not have 
9 



130 THE YANKEE CONSCRIPT; OR, 

done so if I could have avoided it ; I would not 
do so except from the direst necessity. But 
principle was involved. There was an inward 
monitor which told me that I did not do wrong. 
I could not bear arms in defense of a govern- 
ment of robbers and murderers. I could not 
identify myself with a cause that has called 
down upon it the withering scorn of the civil- 
ized world. I could not strike at the flag of 
the free, and help to drag the emblem of liberty 
in the dust. I could not forget the associations 
of my childhood and boyhood. I could not 
forget home and friends in the far distant 
North.. I could not do any of these things — 
and therefore I did as I did. Is there any one 
whose eye may scan these pages that would not 
have done the same under the circumstances ? 
But to return to my narrative. 

In the evening of the day that I arrived at 
Luginbyhl's, I intentionally got up an argument 
in regard to the miller's certificate of exemption. 
I differed entirely with Luginbyhl, hoping by 
this means to get him to produce his, in order 
to convince me that I was wrong. I hoped in 
this way to find out where he kept it. I was 
successful; for, after contending with me for 
some time, and finding I was so positive, he 
said he would soon convince me that I was 



EIGHTEEN MONTHS IN DIXIE. 131 

wrong. Going to the bookcase, lie got a key 
and unlocked his trunk, which was standing in 
a corner of the room, and took out three large 
day-books, and in one of them got his certifi- 
cate, and, laughing, handed it to me, saying: 
"You will acknowledge the corn now, won't 
you ?" I took the certificate, read it, and ac- 
knowledged that I was wrong. He then took 
it and put it in one^of the day-books, (which, I 
did not notice, and this want of attention caused 
me considerable trouble afterwards,) put them 
in his trunk, locked it, and put the key in its 
place in the bookcase. My very success oaused 
me uneasiness ; for I was so overjoyed that I was 
afraid I would speak out and betray myself in 
my sleep. 

Morning came. I spent the most of the day 
lying on the lounge watfhing for an opportunity 
to get the certificate into my possession. I ought 
to add here that the loss of the certificate would 
involve Luginbyhl in no trouble. So long as 
he remained in the employment of a miller, he 
was safe under the law then in force, and could 
easily get another certificate on application to 
the proper officer. My object in trying to get 
it without his knowledge, instead of asking for 
it, was to keep my intention of deserting con- 
cealed. Not feeling well, in consequence of tak- 



132 THE YANKEE CONSCRIPT; OR, 

ing medicine, I kept pretty close to the house. 
Once or twice I walked down to the mill, which 
was some ten rods distant. While there, my 
eyes and ears were open. I noted the engine, 
its size and power, the builder's name, and other 
particulars. I inquired how many pounds of 
flour they made to the bushel, where they sold 
their flour, and asked many other questions 
which it was important for me to know in the 
character of a miller, which I was about to 
assume. Mills being mostly kept throng at 
that season of the year, they ground every 
night until twelve o'clock. 

On Thursday evening, about eleven o'clock, 
I was down at the mill, and to my astonishment 
in came my brother. I had imagined that he 
was many miles away. His appearance was so 
unexpected that he seemed like one risen from 
the grave. I was shocked. I knew something 
must be wrong, and I was not long in finding 
out what it was. He had hired a man by the 
name of Taylor, in Cooke county, to haul a 
load of wool to Yicksburg, and had been at his 
house several times over night. He had gone 
to him to hurry him up so that all the teams 
could start at the same time* Taylor was a 

•There being no railroads in the northern part of Texas, 
transportation is all done by ox-teams — seven or eight 
yoke being often attached to one wagon. 



EIGHTEEN MONTHS IN DIXIE. 133 

Methodist preacher or exhorter, a character 
frequently met with in many parts of the State. 
He was a strong Union man, and had been 
accused of abolitionism. At various times his 
life had been threatened in consequence of his 
Union sentiments. This we learned afterwards ; 
my brother knew nothing of it at the time. On 
"Wednesday morning, the 17th, writs were issued 
for Taylor and my brother. When he arrived 
at Taylor's, about one o'clock on this day, he 
found Mrs. Taylor in violent agitation, sur- 
rounded by a number of neighbor women. On 
inquiring the cause of her distress, he was 
informed that Taylor had been arrested on the 
charge of abolitionism, and was now on trial, 
and that a writ had also been issued for him- 
self. He replied that he thought that could 
not be possible, for he had never said any thing 
that could by any fairness be construed to favor 
abolitionism or disloyalty. He told the women 
that they must certainly be mistaken about 
him, and asked where they had taken Taylor 
for trial. They replied that he had been taken 
to a smith-shop a few miles distant; and he, 
trusting in conscious innocence, started to see 
for himself. He was very soon convinced that 
he had been correctly informed. JSTo sooner 
did he arrive than he was made a prisoner. 



134 THE YANKEE CONSCRIPT; OR, 

He asked what were the charges against him. 
The officer replied that he would very soon 
find out, for he was to have a trial the next 
day, at ten o'clock, at Gainesville, the county 
seat. He replied that he had neither done nor 
said any thing disloyal; that he had been a 
citizen of the South for the last fifteen years ; 
that he was willing to stand his trial, but 
would like to have it postponed for a few days ; 
that being a stranger in the county, he claimed 
the privilege of sending to Eastern Texas, 
where he could establish his character. But 
no. The officer gave him over into the charge 
of five men. They were directed to take him 
to a neighboring house, guard him through the 
night, and bring him to Gainesville on the 
following morning for trial. 

The men were all armed with double-bar- 
reled shot-guns. Three of them were mounted. 
As they were on the way, he asked one of them 
what kind of a reputation Taylor had, and also 
what he and Taylor had been arrested for. He 
replied that Taylor was accused of preaching 
abolitionism ; that he was arrested on the 
charge of being an Abolitionist and a traitor. 
He said that when put on trial Taylor plead 
innocent, and when asked if he thought my 
brother was loyal, replied that he thought he 



EIGHTEEN MONTHS IN DIXIE. 135 

was not. The guard then asked my brother if 
any conversation had passed between him and 
Taylor while he lodged with him, respecting 
Jefferson Davis. He replied that no more had 
passed between them than that Taylor had 
remarked that Davis was a wicked man, that 
is, that he was not a religious man, and was 
addicted to cursing and swearing. They next 
wanted to know if Mrs. Taylor was present 
during the conversation. He replied that he 
did not remember whether she was or not. 
From these questions and some others, my 
brother came to the conclusion that Taylor had 
turned State's evidence against him, and had 
grossly misrepresented him. Alarmed for his 
own safety, he hoped by his and his wife's 
testimony to convict my brother and save him- 
self. My brother being a stranger in the coun- 
ty, and not able to establish his innocence, 
would have to suffer the consequence — death. 
This being the impression made on his mind 
from what little information he obtained from 
the guard, he concluded it would be safer for 
him to run the risk of getting the contents of 
their guns in attempting to escape, than trust 
himself to the tender mercies of the court of 
Judge Lynch, which was to have his case under 
advisement on the following day. Knowing 



136 THE YANKEE CONSCRIPT; OR, 

the fleetness of his horse, he determined to try 
his chances. Arriving at the house, he noticed 
that it stood within a few rods of a ravine, and 
about a quarter of a mile from the " Cross Tim- 
bers."* As the sun was sinking in the horizon, 
they halted. The guard dismounted. My 
brother was commanded to do the same. Now 
or never, thought he; and with the remark 
that he thought he would go a little further, 
he pluoged the spurs into his trusty horse, 
dashed around the corner of the house, and in 
an instant was descending the bank of the 
ravine. Every moment he expected to hear 
the unpleasant music of whizzing buck-shot; 
but neither gun nor whizz did he hear. As 
soon as he was beyond the reach of their guns, 
he turned and looked back. There the five 
astonished guards stood, so utterly bewildered 
by the suddenness of his flight as to be incapa- 
ble of action. A bold and decisive effort has 
saved many a man. It saved my brother. He 
had a good start before they thought of pur- 
suit. Cowards always lack decision. 

* A strip of Post Oak timber, about seven miles wide, 
running north, and south, through the northern part of 
the State. 




r//^A^^y 






EIGHTEEN MONTHS IN DIXIE. 137 



CHAPTER YIIL 

A Mace and a Hunt— Guarding against a Surprise— TJie 
Miller's Certificate Secured— Farewell— The Journey Be- 
gun — Value of Liberty known when Lost — Date of Fur- 
lough Changed — Final Farting — A Lonely Filgrim — 
Acting Jtebel— Tricks of Negroes— A Hunter's Paradise 
— A Big Corn Crop — Farewell to Texas. 

The fleetness of the "horse which my brother 
rode was greatly in his favor. He had been 
kept as a race horse for some time, and was 
finally sold on account of the difficulty of 
keeping him in the course. Pretty hard usage 
during the summer had brought him down a 
little, so that to one who was not a judge, he 
presented no very obvious points of superior- 
ity. He had been resting awhile previous to 
this trial of his speed, and was in good trim 
for a race. One of the guards rode a large, 
fine-looking horse, of which he was very 
proud, and boasted a good deal. He was very 
free to express his belief that no man could get 
away from him while he was mounted on such 
a charger. He did not think that he would be 
so soon tried. Yery soon my fugitive brother 



138 THE YANKEE CONSCRIPT; OR, 

heard, the not very welcome yelp of a pack of 
blood-hounds in full pursuit. Hound and horse 
did their best. In a short time he reached the 
Cross Timbers. Having the advantage of the 
darkness which was now gathering, he felt 
pretty secure from his escort, and after riding a 
little distance in the woods, stopped a few 
seconds to listen for the hounds. By their bay- 
ing he discovered that he was gaining a little. 
Again he pressed forward, and after about 
an hour of fast riding, he reached the Zillaboy, 
a tributary of the Big Elm. After crossing 
and recrossing the stream several times in 
going down, he finally found a place where his 
horse could walk in the channel of the stream. 
In this way he hoped to baffle his ferocious 
pursuers, and succeeded well. After following 
the stream for some distance, and feeling satis- 
fied that the hounds were a long distance in 
the rear, he left the Zillaboy, and struck out in 
the direction of Honey creek, in Collin county, 
a distance of thirty miles. He reached the 
creek about daylight, stopping once during the 
night to let his horse graze and rest awhile. 
His purpose in going there was to get a Mr. 
William Fair (a friend of ours from the neigh- 
borhood in which we were born and brought 
up) to go to Denton and inform me of the 



EIGHTEEN MONTHS IN DIXIE. 139 

circumstances, so that I would not lose my 
horses by leaving them for his disposal. Not 
finding Mr. Fair at home, he was obliged to 
retrace his steps back through the Cross Tim- 
bers. He did not leave Honey creek until late 
in the afternoon, so as to pass the most danger- 
ous part of the route after dark. This was the 
reason of his late arrival at Luginbyhl's, as I 
have already stated. The distance was forty 
miles. 

After relating to me the above facts, my 
brother desired to know if I had obtained pos- 
session of Luginbyhl's certificate of exemption. 
I replied that I had not, but that I was in 
hopes of being able to get it. He remained 
at Luginbyhl's over night. He was afraid of 
being pursued and arrested that night, and 
therefore took the necessary precautions to 
guard against a surprise. After feeding his 
horse, he took him out on the prairie to a 
little hackberry grove, a short distance from 
the house, and tied him, leaving bridle and 
saddle on. When we were about to retire, he 
got Mrs. Luginbyhl to make him a bed on the 
floor by one of the doors, pretending he could 
not rest well in a bed, and wishing to enjoy 
the cool breeze. He did this so that, if an 
attempt should be made to arrest him, he 



140 THE YANKEE CONSCRIPT; OR, 

could slip out to his horse and be off. He 
was not molested, however. He was up by 
dawn in the morning, and, breakfast being 
over early, he again set out, going in a west- 
erly direction, so as to baffle pursuers. He 
and I had arranged before he started, that if I 
could get possession of Luginbyhl's certificate, 
I would meet him in the evening at the head 
of Enoch creek, a small tributary of Clear 
creek. As soon as he was out of sight of 
houses, he turned his course to the appointed 
place of rendezvous. The spot was a retired 
place, seldom visited except by herdsmen. 

After he left, I watched every opportunity 
to obtain possession of the certificate. It was a 
difficult matter. The house consisted of but 
one room, with two doors, one on each side. 
One of them opened toward the mill, a few 
rods distant ; the other toward the well where 
the people of the village got their water. 
Some one was passing and repassing every 
few minutes. The only thing in my favor was 
that the kitchen stood at a little distance from 
the house, and was so situated that one could 
not see from it into the house. There was 
another difficulty in my way. Luginbyhl had 
a little girl about six years of age. She was 
most of the time in the room with me ; and I 



EIGHTEEN MONTHS IN DIXIE. 141 

knew that if she saw me about her uncle's 
trunk, she would soon let the secret out. I 
found my only chance was to send her to the 
mill for something while her mother was get- 
ting dinner, and then unlock the trunk while 
she was absent. With this view, I sent her 
down to the mill a little while before noon, 
while Mrs. Luginbyhl was getting dinner, to 
get her pa's knife to make a toy. While she 
was gone, I got the key and unlocked the 
trunk, and searched one of the day-books for 
the certificate. Not finding it in this book, I 
took out another, but was again disappointed ; 
and before I had time to search the third book, 
I saw the child coming back. I slipped the 
books back into the trunk and locked it before 
she came in, putting the key in my pocket for 
another trial. I had intimated in the morning 
that I contemplated going back to Dallas in 
the afternoon. After dinner, while Mrs. Lugin- 
byhl was washing the dishes, I told the little 
girl to go down to the mill again and get some 
corn, and I would teach her to play checkers. 
Away she went gleefully. Now was my 
chance. I knew the certificate must be in 
the book which I had not had time to search 
in the morning. Opening the trunk, I took 
the book, turned over a few leaves, and lo, 



142 THE YANKEE CONSCRIPT; OR, 

the certificate! It was mine at last. I put 
back the book, locked the trunk, put the key 
in its place, and was ready for my journey. 
After delaying about half an hour, to satisfy 
the little girl, I saddled my horse, bade them 
all farewell, and started for Dallas, as they 
supposed. 

After getting out of sight of the mill, 1 dis- 
mounted, pulled off one of my boots, cut a slit 
in the inside lining of the leg, and put my 
certificate in, and there it remained until I 
crossed Eed river into the Choctaw nation, a 
distance of one hundred and fifty miles. I went 
direct from Luginbyhl's to the house of my 
father-in-law, got my two horses, and started, 
telling them that I wished to go a part of my 
journey that evening. After I reached a place 
where I couid not be seen from any house, I 
turned my course and went direct to my bro- 
ther, arriving at the appointed place of meeting 
as the sun was setting. This was on Friday, 
the 19th. I found him waiting. In a few 
minutes we set out on our route for Eastern 
Texas. We crossed a prairie about six miles 
before we reached the Big Elm at the edge of 
the Cross Timbers. Passing on through the 
woods, we again struck out across a large 
prairie, and arrived at the Little Elm, in Collin 



EIGHTEEN" MONTHS IN DIXIE. 143 

county, about three o'clock. Here we stopped 
for a short time, and allowed our horses to 
graze ; then again started, and arrived at Honey 
creek about sunrise. My brother stopped and 
got his breakfast, and had his horse fed at this 
place. I went on four miles further, to East 
Fork, got my breakfast and fed my horses. 
Before I was ready to start, he passed by, went 
on a little distance, and then waited until I 
came up. This we did to avoid suspicion. 
We avoided public roads and towns, leaving 
Manshaway and Pilot Grove some distance to 
our right, and Kentuckytown to our left. We 
never thought of sleep on the night after we 
left Denton. We thought and talked only of 
our escape. My brother said that he had 
never realized the value of liberty until he had 
lost it. He said that the only remark that he 
had made to Taylor that by any possibility 
could be called disloyal, was that he was op- 
posed to secession, had voted against it, and 
intended to let them fight it out themselves. 
If they should gain their independence, he 
would make them a good, peaceable citizen, 
but that «he never would take up arms against 
the old government. He said that, had he not 
made his escape, he was confident he would 
have been hung the next day at Gainesville, as 



144 THE YANKEE CONSCRIPT; OR, 

a warning to others, for there were many like 
him. I shall have occasion to mention the exe- 
cution of twenty-two in that very town shortly 
afterwards. 

About eight o'clock on Saturday evening, we 
arrived at the residence of a friend, near the 
place where we sheared our sheep in the spring, 
and remained with him over Sabbath. On 
Monday morning I sold one of my horses, and 
left the other for my friend to sell. During the 
day, until three o'clock P. M., we were making 
arrangements for our departure, he intending to 
start to Louisiana in the morning, and run his 
chance with others a while longer in Dixie; at 
least as long as he could keep out of the army. 
On this day I changed my furlough so as to 
make it extend to the 30th instead of the 20th, 
which was easily done ; all that was to be done 
was to change the figure 2 to 3. On the fur- 
lough thus changed, I traveled without difficulty 
through Eastern Texas, stating that I was going 
twelve miles north-east of Paris to see a sick 
friend. For greater safety I lay out at night, 
until I got beyond Paris. On Monday, I bade 
my brother an affectionate farewell* Tears 
were shed. It was a more mournful parting 
than any theretofore. He was still exposed to 
danger; I had a perilous journey before me. 



EIGHTEEN MONTHS IN DIXIE. 145 

We might never meet again. I have never 
heard from him since. 

I started. Bonham was passed after dark. I 
traveled until ten o'clock, then stopped, picketed 
my horse, and lay down on the open prairie 
with my saddle for a pillow, and slept until the 
break of day. I then resumed my journey and 
traveled until eight o'clock, when I stopped, ob- 
tained breakfast and feed for my horse. I con- 
tinued my journey until four o'clock P. M., and 
then stopped to get supper and feed my horse; 
and again pursued my journey until nine o'clock, 
and slept on the prairie, within a mile of Paris. 
I passed through this town very early on the 
following morning, and took the Kiamishi road, 
obtained breakfast, and pursuing my journey 
with diligence, reached Bed river, at the mouth 
of the Kiamishi, about sunset. I stopped over 
night at the house of a planter ; it was the first 
house I had slept in since I parted from my 
brother. 

As I approached the house, I passed a field 
in which the negroes were at work gathering 
cotton, which was ripe at the time. They were 
going over the field the first time. Not more 
than half of the pods were bursted; but by the 
time they could go over the field once it would 
be ready for a second picking. Fields are often 
10 



146 THE YANKEE CONSCRIPT; OR, 

gone over three, and sometimes four times in 
one season. The cotton picking period is always 
a hard time for the slaves. It lasts about a 
month. They are tasked. A certain number 
of pounds per day must be gathered. If they 
fail, the inevitable lash quickens their steps and 
fingers for the future. As I approached the 
house, I met the overseer riding out to the field 
with a large whip in his hand. I asked him if 
I could obtain lodging, and was answered that 
I could be accommodated. He told me to ride 
on to the house, and said that he would return 
shortly, being on his way to the field to weigh 
the cotton. I saw the scales in the corner of 
the field as I passed. He soon returned, and 
ordered a negro to put up my horse. He was 
the only white person about the house. The 
planter and his family were away on a visit. 
This overseer was a gentleman. He had been 
at Clarksville the day before, and had bought a 
few pounds of " Lincoln coffee," as they call the 
genuine article in the South. One dollar per 
pound was the price. He ordered some to be 
made for supper, and I can say for one that I 
have tasted dollar coffee. After supper, we en- 
tered iuto conversation about the war. I was 
anxious to gain as much information as possible, 
for I was poorly posted ; I had been traveling 



EIGHTEEN MONTHS IN DIXIE. 147 

a good deal during the fore part of the summer, 
when my means of information were not very 
good, and after I was conscripted, it was but 
seldom that 1 had an opportunity of obtaining 
any knowledge of passing events. It would be 
difficult for me to say which of us was the worse 
rebel, or which of us thundered against Lincoln 
and Abolitionists the louder. He had received 
a dispatch during the latter part of the previous 
week, respecting the success of the rebel army 
in Kentucky. It had taken Frankfort, Lexing- 
ton and Paris, and was on the march to Cincin- 
nati. He said he was firmly persuaded that 
Cincinnati had fallen. I appeared to be as san- 
guine and hopeful as he, and remarked that the 
next news we would hear would probably be 
that old Abe was about to acknowledge our in- 
dependence. 

I asked my host how many men he thought 
we (the Confederates) had in the field. He re- 
plied that he saw in one of his papers a state- 
ment made by Jeff. Davis himself, that when all 
the conscripts were armed and in the field, there 
would be something near nine hundred thou- 
sand. Conversation turned on the negroes, and 
he told me how some of them had been deceiv- 
ing the Yankees on the Mississippi river. They 
had made, he said, breastworks on the banks of 



148 THE YANKEE CONSCRIPT; OR, 

the river. On these embankments they had 
placed logs of various sizes, from the size of a 
flour barrel down, and with charcoal had marked 
the ends so as to give them the appearance of 
cannon at a distance. The gunboats, on coming 
in sight of these works, would stop, manoeuvre 
and reconnoitre, and did not, for a considerable 
time, discover the trick. It will occur to the 
reader that the negroes generally play off on 
the other side. 

In conversing on various topics, he asked me 
what part of the State I was from. I replied 
that I was from Denton county. I told him 
that my brother and I owned a steam flouring- 
mill in that county, and I was, therefore, ex- 
empt from conscription, and was on my way 
to Huntsville, Arkansas, on business. He 
remarked that he also was exempt, on account 
of being an overseer. He appeared to be very 
anxious to know all about the country where I 
lived, — whether it was a good stock country ? 
-was land cheap ? was there plenty of game ? &c. 
I replied that it was the best stock country 
in the world ; that stock of all kinds lived the 
whole year without feeding, running at large 
on the prairie. I told him that land could be 
bought for all prices, ranging from seven to 
twenty-five dollars per acre, according to qual- 



EIGHTEEN MONTHS IN DIXIE. 149 

ity, location, improvements, and the advan- 
tages of water and timber. As for game, there 
is no scarcity of it. There are wolves, bears, 
panthers, cougars, wild-cats, deer, antelopes, 
mule-eared rabbits, (having ears nine inches 
long, and as large as a half-grown fawn,) wild 
turkeys, and prairie chickens by the thousand, 
and sometimes a few buffaloes, run in from the 
frontier by the stock-herders. This excited 
him. He rose from his seat, and said that was 
the country for him; he had always had an 
inclination to hunt. He said he had been fol- 
lowing the business of an overseer for some 
years, getting eight hundred dollars a year for 
his services ; but as soon as his time was up, 
he would move out to that part of the State in 
which I lived. He said his wife was at her 
mother's, and did not like to move far from 
home, but he must go anyhow. 

I asked him what sort of a farm he wanted. 
After describing the kind of a place that would 
suit him, I told him there was a farm in the 
neighborhood that would answer him precisely. 
He asked me .how long it would be before I 
would return to Denton. I # replied that I 
would be back in the course of two or three 
weeks. " I want you to do me a favor," said 
he. " Find out what the farm can be bought 



150 THE YANKEE CONSCRIPT; OR, 

for, and let me know." I had to promise. He 
was in a mood for talking, and pressed me with 
questions, such as where I sold my flour? had 
I many fat hogs? did I not think pork would 
be high ? &c. I told him we sold our flour on 
the frontier, at Fort Belknap and Camp Coop- 
er, and that we would have from fifty to sev- 
enty-five fat hogs to kill. It was after eleven 
o'clock before I got to bed, and I then had to 
apologize for going, by saying that I felt very 
tired and sleepy after riding all day in the hot 
sun. Breakfast was over the next morning by 
daylight. A little while before I started, I 
asked the overseer how much land they had in 
cotton. He replied that they had very little 
compared with former years, owing to the law 
of the Confederate Congress forbidding the 
cultivation of more than two acres to the hand, 
during the war. He said they had turned their 
attention to the raising of corn, and that they 
would probably raise this year about twenty- 
six thousand bushels. I smiled incredulously, 
thinking that he was joking. I asked him how 
many acres they had in cultivation, and he 
replied that they had seven hundred. His 
estimate of the aggregate yield was reasonable 
enough. In a few minutes, my horse was sad- 
dled and brought out. I paid my bill, and 



EIGHTEEN MONTHS IN DIXIE. 151 

started down to the ferry, a little distance 
below the house. As I rode along the bank, 
I could not but admire the corn; and as for 
melons, there was no scarcity, and they were 
the largest I ever saw. When I arrived at 
the ferry, the flat-boat was on the opposite 
side. After straining my lungs for some min- 
utes, I finally succeeded in attracting the atten- 
tion of an Indian. He brought over the flat- 
boat, and ferried me across into the Choctaw 
Nation; and with a lightened heart, I bade 
farewell to Texas. 



152 THE YANKEE CONSCRIPT ; OR, 



CHAPTEK IX. 

Travels and Adventures in the Indian Country — Precautions 
against Discovery — In Arkansas — Apples, feacJies, and 
Company — Close Questioning — Seeking for Information 
— Dress — Anxiety — A Missotiri Hebel — A Letter — Clay 
Eaters — Difficulty in Crossing the JRiver — Over the River 
— In a Net — Unwelcome Visitors — Arrested. 

I HAD a reach of about sixty miles to travel 
through the Choctaw Nation before I entered 
Arkansas. After going a short distance from 
the river, I dismounted, drew off my boot and 
got out my certificate. I then took out my 
pocket Bible and a small dictionary which I 
had in my saddle-riders, and tore out my name, 
which was written on the fly-leaf in each of the 
books, and wrote Christian Luginbyhl's name 
and age to correspond with the certificate. I 
then lit a match and burnt my furlough and the 
two leaves which I had torn out of my Bible 
and dictionary, and pressed onward, feeling 
pretty safe. About noon I stopped in a little 
Indian village and got my dinner and fed my 
horse. Continuing my journey, I reached 
another Indian village in the evening, and put 
up for the night with a white man who had a 



EIGHTEEN MONTHS IN DIXIE. 153 

little store and kept a house of entertainment. 
His Indian name, as it appeared on the sign- 
board, was La-fa-tha. I was thirty miles from 
where I stopped the night before. Several 
drovers from Texas, who were driving cattle to 
Little Kock, had stopped with La-fa-tha for the 
night. They were very inquisitive, and got to 
hear my mill story. I returned the compliment 
by making numerous inquiries respecting their 
business, matters that did not concern me, it is 
true, but I wanted to convince them that it is 
ungentlemanly to press inquiries too far. Some 
time after dark, two Indians called at the store 
to get fiddle strings. On inquiry, I learned from 
old La-fa-tha that the Indians had a scalp dance 
that evening. Some of the soldiers had scalped 
a few Yankees, and had sent the bloody trophies 
to the Indians, who were having a grand jubilee 
over them. 

On Friday morning, I was on my way bright 
and early. Near noon I arrived at the house 
of a widow lady, who was about one-fourth 
Choctaw. I stopped for dinner. She was quite 
intelligent. She was very much annoyed by 
the pilfering habits of the full-blooded Choctaws, 
and had but little to say in their favor. She 
had a fine apple and peach orchard, but it was 
only a vexation to her, for the Indians would 



154 THE YANKEE CONSCRIPT; OR, 

go in after night and carry off the fruit by 
bushels. She was very anxious that the law 
should be so changed as to allow white men to 
settle in the Nation, in order that they might 
crowd out the Indians. I asked her if there 
were many of the Indians in the army. She 
replied that there were, but that they were in- 
duced to go by large bounties and special favors, 
being paid monthly, while other soldiers found 
it difficult to get their pay quarterly. 

The evening found me a few miles over the 
line in Sevier county, Arkansas ; and the next 
evening found me about forty miles farther 
north, in Polk county. I staid over night with 
a very agreeable old gentleman, an early settler, 
having been in that part of the country for 
about forty years. He had the finest and 
largest fruit — apples and peaches — I ever saw 
or tasted. Shortly after I arrived, a soldier 
from Texas called and tarried over night. He 
said that his regiment was encamped at Ozark, 
on the Arkansas river, and that when the regi- 
ment passed through he had been left behind 
on account of sickness. In the morning we set 
out in company, and traveled some distance to- 
gether. During the day my horse became 
quite lame. He was shod only on the fore feet 
when I left Texas, and he had lost one of his 



EIGHTEEN MONTHS IN DIXIE. 155 

shoes the day before. The country being rough 
and mountainous, and it being necessary for me 
to cross over the Push mountains on the fol- 
lowing day, I stopped at the first blacksmith 
shop on the way, and got my horse shod all 
round — three new shoes costing me four dollars. 
Iron was very scarce, and in many cases the 
blacksmiths had none to work up except old 
wagon tires and such articles. While in com- 
pany with the soldier in the morning, I learned 
that the name of the colonel of the regiment to 
which he belonged was Bass, and that the regi- 
ment was raised in Smith, Upshur and Harrison 
counties, on the Sabine river. He appeared to 
be in a great hurry to get to his regiment, and 
was afraid they would leave Ozark before he 
could reach that place. On the evening of this 
day, I arrived at the foot of the Push mountains, 
where I remained over night. This was the 
28th. The next day I crossed the mountains, 
and in the evening I passed through Waldron, 
the county-seat of Scott county. As I passed 
through I noticed near a hundred men in the 
streets. After I had gone about half a mile 
beyond the town, I was overtaken by a man 
who immediately inquired : 

" Do you belong to the raagiment 'ncamped 
at Ozark?" 



156 



"No, sir, I do not." 

" Do you belong to the army?" 

"No, sir." 

"How does that come? You're a young 
lookin' feller. How is it that you wasn't con- 
scripted ?" 

" I am a miller, sir ; I and a brother of mine 
own a steam flouring-mill in Texas. On that 
account I am exempt. I am going to Hunts- 
ville on business." 

u Was you halted thar by the guards as you 
passed through town ?" 

" No, sir, I was not. I was not aware that 
guards were placed in town." 

" Well I reckon you was taken for a soldier 
belongin' to the raagiment camped at Ozark. 
One of them passed through yesterday. I 
reckon you've got a pass to show?" 

" No, sir, I have no pass ; but I have some- 
thing that will answer the same purpose. I 
have a certificate of exemption." 

" Wall as you've got through town without 
bein' halted, and as you have a certificate of 
exemption, I reckon it '11 not make much 
difference. You will, howsever, find guards 
placed at different points along the road as fur 
as you are goin', and you'll have to show 
your certificate before they'll 'low you to 
pass on." 



EIGHTEEN MONTHS IN DIXIE. 157 

11 That is all well enough, sir ; I am ready at 
any time to show my certificate." 

After riding along a little farther, the road 
forked, and he turned off. I went on about 
two miles and put up for the night. I learned 
from my host that this was court-week, and 
that this was the reason why so many were 
gathered in town. And I gained other infor- 
mation that was valuable to me. He stated 
that there were guards placed at a store ten 
miles ahead on the road that I was traveling. 
This day I learned for the first time that mar- 
tial law was in force in Arkansas. When I left 
Texas, it was suspended. Since it had been in 
force in Arkansas before it was put in operation 
in Texas, I thought that it had certainly been 
done away with in Arkansas also, and that I 
would not have much difficulty in passing on to 
Hunts ville by shaping my course so as to avoid 
Little Eock and Fort Smith, where I knew 
parts of their army were posted. 

I wore the same clothes that I had used while 
in the camp of instruction, a white shirt and a 
butternut shirt over it, a dark cassimere coat and 
jean pants of a butternut color, and a blanket 
of the same color thrown over my Mexican 
saddle. All corresponded very well with the 
Texan soldiers' uniform ; for they were nearly 



158 THE YANKEE CONSCRIPT; OR, 

all dressed in homespun dyed in a decoction of 
black walnut bark, and cut in citizens' style. 

On the night of the 29th I slept very little. 
The language of my certificate gave me a great 
deal of uneasiness. According to it, I was ex- 
empt only while engaged in the employment of a 
miller. I knew that if it were examined by men 
who properly understood their business, they 
would decide that, being now away from the 
mill and engaged in other business, I was liable 
to conscription. I saw plainly that my only 
chance now was to elude the guards. If I could 
do this, I might get through. After traveling 
some miles on the following morning, I began 
to make inquiry as I passed along respecting 
the store. When I got within half a mile of it, 
I left the road and took a circuitous route 
through the woods, coming into the road again 
on the other side of the store. I met with no 
hindrance during the remainder of the day. I 
stayed over night within twenty miles of Ozark. 
The man with whom I lodged had rented one 
of his rooms to a merchant from Bolivar, Polk 
county, Missouri. He said that he had been 
driven out of Missouri by the Union men, and 
that they had killed his brother. He was now 
waiting until the Confederates should drive the 
Yankees out of Missouri, and then he intended 



EIGHTEEN MONTHS IN DIXIE. 159 

to return. He was one of the worst rebels I 
ever met. He was very inquisitive, and of 
course I had to repeat my mill story. When 
he found out that I was from Denton county, 
Texas, he said that he had many acquaintances 
in that county who had emigrated from Mis- 
souri ; he mentioned their names, and asked me 
if I knew any of them. I replied that I did 
not know the men he mentioned, but said that 
there were a great many Missourians in that 
county, and that I had heard of some of the 
names which he mentioned. This I did to 
avoid any complications ; for I was personally 
acquainted with every man he named. They 
lived within two miles of my place — most of 
them in the village of New Prospect, the name 
of which they changed to Bolivar, after the 
town of that name in Missouri from which they 
emigrated. One of the provost guards who ar- 
rested me on my return to Texas, as I have 
already mentioned, had been a merchant in 
Missouri. He was very anxious to hear some- 
thing about him, but I thought it prudent not 
.to gratify his curiosity. 

When I was about to retire, my host said 
that his father lived on the Mulberry moun- 
tains, on my way to Huntsville, and intimated 
that he would like to send a letter to him by 



160 



me, if I would be kind enough to carry it. I 
told him I would do so with pleasure. He 
then described the place so that I would easily 
know it, and sat down to write the letter. 
After riding a few miles the following morn- 
ing, I began to suspect that the letter might 
be a trap set to catch me ; so I stopped, took 
my penknife, opened the letter, and read it. 
It related to nothing but his own affairs. I 
sealed it again very nicely. When I arrived 
within ten miles of Ozark, I stopped at a house 
by the roadside to take shelter from a shower, 
which lasted about half an hour. It was a 
wretched place. The family consisted of three 
persons — an old gray-headed man and woman, 
and a young girl about fourteen or fifteen 
years of age. They were employed in making 
sleys (weavers' reeds) for a living. Their color 
and appearance indicated that they belonged 
to the class of clay -eaters. I gained some 
information from them which I was very 
anxious to obtain. I pretended to be a strong 
rebel ; told them the old story of the mill, and 
thus led them into conversation. The old man 
.said that the regiment at Ozark was encamped 
on this side of the river, on the road ; that they 
kept a camp- guard day and night, and that no 
one could pass without examination. I further 



EIGHTEEN MONTHS IN DIXIE. 161 

learned that a guard was kept in Ozark. I 
asked him if the river could be forded. He 
said it could not, and that this was the reason 
why the regiment was encamped on this side 
of the river. He stated also that there was no 
ferry-boat at present; that General Hindman 
had impressed all the flats to take corn down 
to Little Rock; and that the colonel of the 
regiment had sent to Fort Smith for a boat. 
I asked him if he thought I could ford the 
river by going down a few miles. He said I 
might be able to do so, but that I would be 
obliged to go back three miles, and take the 
road to Roseville, nine miles below. He 
thought there might be a flat there, but if not, 
that I might be able to ford the river at that 
place. I determined to try. 

As I was getting on my horse to start back, 
a boy came riding up the road from Ozark. 
The old man asked him if the regiment was 
still encamped on this side of the river. He 
said ib was not ; that they had forded the river 
yesterday evening, some of them having to 
swim their horses, and that they were now 
encamped below town, on the other side. I 
had no inclination to run the risk of crossing 
at the same place. I told the old man that, as 
I was unacquainted with the ford, I would pre- 
11 



162 THE YANKEE CONSCRIPT; OR, 

fer to go back and take the road to Koseville, 
where there was at least some chance of ob- 
taining a flat; and that if I failed in finding 
one, I would be no worse off than I would be 
if I were to go on to Ozark. I started back 
with the boy, who said he would put me on 
the right road. Just as we got within a few 
rods of the cross-roads, a carriage containing 
an officer passed, closely followed by ten or 
fifteen well-armed mounted guards. I asked 
the boy if he knew who the officer was, and 
he replied that he thought it was General 
Hindman; that the road on which he was 
traveling was the Little Eock and Fort Smith 
road, and Hindman frequently passed back and 
forth between these two places. After a few 
hours' drive, I arrived at Koseville. But there 
was no flat ; it, too, had been impressed. I got 
across, however, in a skiff) holding on to the 
halter, and making my horse swim behind me. 
This was about four o'clock P. M. I was 
within sixty miles of Huntsville. I had eluded 
the guards, and crossed the river. I felt pretty 
safe. My prospect brightened. Alas, how 
soon did clouds and thick darkness again ob- 
scure the light of hope ! I had calculated on 
being able to go on toward Huntsville without 
passing through Ozark. Once in Huntsville, 



EIGHTEEN MONTHS IN DIXIE. 163 

I would be within half a day's ride of Mis- 
souri ; and when in Missouri, I would consider 
my danger over, for I could easily reach the 
lines of our army by traveling after night. I 
was soon convinced that my hope of eluding 
the guards was baseless, 

There are three ranges of mountains between 
the river and Hunts ville, and the ferryman 
assured me that there was no road leading 
over the mountains to Huntsville except that 
through Ozark. To add to my trouble, he 
told me that there were provost guards all 
along the river between Eoseville and Ozark, 
a distance of nine miles. He recommended 
me to stop over night with one of the guards, 
stating that , it would be a good place to get 
accommodation. I started on ; I could do no 
better. When I got within about two miles of 
Ozark, the road forked. I began to hope. I 
thought I might have been misinformed, with 
the design of entrapping me. I had just passed 
a house, and now rode back to make some 
inquiries respecting the way. There was a 
lady standing in the yard. I inquired where 
the right-hand road led to. She replied that it 
led to a house about half a mile off, at the foot 
of the mountain. 

" Are there any roads leading to Huntsville 
without going through Ozark ?" I inquired. 



164 THE YANKEE CONSCRIPT; OR, 

"No, sir," said she; and then came her turn 
to ask a question. 

" Do you belong to the raagiment camped 
up thar at Ozark ?" 

" No, ma'am, I do not." 

" Do you belong to the army ?" 

"No, ma'am; I am exempt from military 
duty." 

" Where are you frum, and whar are you 
goin'?" 

" I am from Texas, and am going to Hunts- 
ville on business with an uncle of mine who 
lives there." 

I thought she was rather impertinent. In a 
few hours I learned the reason: her husband 
was chief of the provost guards. "When I 
reached the forks of the road, I turned to the 
right, and rode to the house at the foot of the 
mountain. I asked to be permitted to stay 
over night. At first they refused, alleging 
that they had very poor accommodations; bat 
I dismounted, told them my horse was very 
tired, and that I was willing to put up with 
any kind of accommodations for the sake of 
getting some rest for myself and horse. A 
scanty supper was prepared for me. I was 
not disposed to be captious, however, and ate 
as if I had been accustomed to such fare. I 



EIGHTEEN MONTHS IN DIXIE. 165 

had hoped, by leaving the public road and 
coming to this retired place, to gain informa- 
tion of some by-way or path over the moun- 
tains to the Huntsville road, which would 
enable me to shun Ozark, and escape the 
guards. I was again disappointed. After 
supper I cautiously approached the subject 
by talking about the ruggedness of the coun- 
try, and expressing wonder that they should 
continue to live in such a place when other 
parts of the country presented such advan- 
tages. I described Texas in glowing colors; 
told them all the good qualities of that country, 
and said nothing about the bad ; and I showed 
them how, by a little industry, they could 
soon secure a comfortable home. I related my 
mill story ; told them I was going to Huntsville 
on business ; that I intended to be back in the 
course of a week; and intimated to the old 
gentleman that, if he felt in the nation of 
moving, I would give him employment as 
teamster in hauling flour to Fort Belknap. 
This excited him very much, and put him at 
once in the notion of moving. I told him that 
I was anxious to get back as soon as possible, 
and wanted to know if hp could put me on a 
trail by which I could reach Huntsville sooner 
than by the usual road. He replied that there 



166 THE YANKEE CONSCRIPT; OB, 

were no settlements on the mountains between 
that place and Huntsville, except a few scat- 
tered houses along the Ozark road; and that 
it would be impossible for a man to make the 
journey on foot except by the Ozark road. I 
concluded that I had got myself into a trap ; 
and, not wishing to talk any more after I found 
that there was nothing left for me but to go 
through Ozark, I remarked that I was very 
tired, and wished to go to bed. I was not 
without hope that some plan would suggest 
itself by which I might escape the guard. 

The house consisted of but one room, about 
eighteen feet square, having two doors, one 
on the east, and one on the west side. It was 
but one story high, and there was neither loft 
nor window. There were two beds; one was 
assigned to me, and I retired about eight 
o'clock. About half an hour later, the man 
and his "wife also retired. Not long after- 
wards, the dog began to bark excitedly, and 
I felt pretty sure we were going to have a call. 
Yery soon the dog backed up against the door, 
and I distinctly heard the footsteps of men. 
"When they got within a few steps of the 
house, they called, an(J the man got up, opened 
the door, silenced the dog, who was making a 
tremendous fuss, and told them to come in. 



EIGHTEEN MONTHS IN DIXIE. 167 

My back was turned toward the door, but I 
could easily tell by the sound of their footsteps 
that there were five or six of them. And they 
were all armed, for I could hear them setting 
their guns down in the corner. I did not 
move. They all sat down by the fire, and 
commenced talking. They said they were 
going to kill a beef in the morning, and 
wanted to know if my host would take a 
piece. They talked on for nearly an hour, 
probably to find out whether I was awake 
and uneasy. I was lying with my back to 
the fire, and was wide awake ; but I pretended 
to be asleep, I could not but think that I was 
the beef, and felt almost sure that I was the 
object of their errand. I was not long in 
doubt, for as soon as the chief of the guards 
saw that their conversation did not alarm or 
arouse me, he told my host that he wanted to 
speak with me, and requested him to awake 
me. He came to the bed and spoke, but I 
made no reply. He then put his hand on my 
shoulder and shook me a little, and asked me 
if I was asleep. I gave a grunt or two, rubbed 
my eyes, and asked him what he wanted. He 
said there were some men in the house who 
wished to speak with me. I turned round 
facing the fire, and the leader of the party 
said: 



168 



" Are you traveling, stranger ?" 

" Not now, sir, I am in bed." 

" Well, well, where are you going to ?" 

"To Huntsville, sir, on business with an 
uncle of mine, who lives there." 

" Where are you from ?" 

" I am from North-western Texas." 

" From what county ?" 

" Denton." 

" What is your uncle's name ?" 

" McFarland." 

"Do. you belong to the army?" 

" No, sir, I am exempt from military duty ?" 

" How does that come ; you are under thirty- 
five, are you not?" 

" Yes, sir, but I and a brother of mine own a 
steam flouring-mill, and on that account I am 
exempt from military duty, according to the 
law recently passed by Congress." 

" Have you a pass ?" 

"No, sir, but I have what will answer the 
same purpose ; I have my certificate of exemp- 
tion." 

" Let me see it." 

He came and took a seat by the side of my 
bed. I got out my pocket-book, took from it my 
certificate, and handed it to him. He began to 
read it. When he came to the name of Lugin- 
byhl he could not make it out, and asked : 



EIGHTEEN MONTHS IN DIXIE. 169 

" What is your name V 

" Christian Luginbyhl." 

"Luginbyhl, did you say?" 

" Yes, sir, Luginbyhl." 

After he had finished reading it by himself, 
he asked his comrades if they wanted to hear it 
read. They all called for the reading of it, and 
they listened most attentively. When he came 
to the name of Luginbyhl, he had to stop and 
get me to pronounce the name. After he 
finished reading it, he handed it back to me, 
and remarked that they were all provost guards ; 
that I must not think hard of them, for they 
would be obliged to stay all night with me. I 
was a prisoner. 



170 THE YANKEE CONSCRIPT; OB, 



CHAPTER X. 

Making the best of it—Wetvs of the Fugitives from Fannin 
County — Guards make Arrangements for Sleep — Precau- 
tions against Detection — A curious Quid — lie fore the 
Provost Marshal — His Decision — Farther Questioning—' 
Another Prisoner — Familiar Conversation with the Pro- 
vost Marshal — Reversal of the Marshal's Decision — Sent 
to Colonel Bass — A J~oke — Close Questioning — Again a 
Conscript. 

The guard told me that they had orders to 
arrest all men who were traveling North with- 
out a pass. Sometimes innocent men were 
caught and put to a good deal of trouble. It 
could not be helped, however, for the Federal 
army was not far off. They told me that a few 
weeks ago a company of about sixty men from 
Texas had crossed the river, stating that they 
were going to Missouri to enlist under General 
Coffee. They were suspected; it was conjec- 
tured that they were trying to escape from con- 
scription, or intending to join the Union army ; 
an attempt was made to arrest them; a fight 
took place ; two of their number were shot, and 
the rest escaped into Missouri. This was the 
identical company I had intended to join in 
Fannin county, but was foiled. by being caught 



EIGHTEEN MONTHS IN DIXIE. 171 

in Denton county and conscripted, as I have 
already intimated. Soon after they examined 
my certificate, four of the guards spread a 
blanket on the floor near the fire, and lay down 
to sleep, placing their guns at their heads. The 
other two were appointed to guard the doors. 
Each took his blanket, spread it by the door 
which he was to guard, lay down, and placed 
his gun by bis side. This was the first time — 
and I hope it will be the last — that I was ever 
guarded. Six villainous looking men kept 
watch over me, my only crime being loyalty. 
I turned my back towards the fire and feigned 
sleep ; in the course of an hour I snored pro- 
digiously, but sleep was fled, and I lay longing 
for the morning. I racked my brain to dis- 
cover some plan of escape, but it was a hopeless 
task ; and then 1 set my wits to work to prepare 
for the ordeal which awaited me in the morning. 
I knew that I would be examined, questioned 
and cross- questioned by the Provost Marshal, 
and that if I was not prepared beforehand with 
answers to such questions as I thought he would 
most likely ask me, I would be very apt to 
contradict myself. 1 had but two papers in my 
possession which would tend to convict me if I 
should be searched ; one was a catalogue of the 
towns on my route, on which I had thought- 



172 THE YANKEE CONSCEIPT; OK, 

lessly put Springfield, Missouri, at the head of 
the list. This paper I had in my pocket-book, 
and I well knew that if I was searched it would 
condemn me. After everything was still, and I 
thought the men were asleep, I took out my 
pocket-book, and, in perfect darkness, searched 
until I was satisfied that I .had gotten hold of 
the right paper, took it out, put it into my 
mouth and chewed it into a wad, and then 
threw it behind the bed. The other paper was 
an order from my brother to my father, and it 
read as follows : 

Bonham, Texas, September 22, 1862. 
Dear Father — 

Please pay to the bearer of this order the sum of 

dollars, which you said was subject to my order. 



Fisher. 



This order I carried in the lining of my boot- 
leg from the time it was dated until after I re- 
ported to General Schofield, at Cassville, Mis- 
souri, on the 12th of October. It caused me a 
great deal of uneasiness while I remained a 
prisoner, for I was constantly in dread of being 
searched. If I had been searched, and this 
paper found, to say nothing of its contents, the 
very place in which I had concealed it would 
have been ground of suspicion against me. I 
was not searched. 



EIGHTEEN MONTHS IN DIXIE. 178 

Morning came. It was the 2d of October. 
After breakfast the guard escorted me to Ozark. 
As we got within half a mile of the town ; the 
regiment of Colonel Bass was just starting for 
Missouri. We followed the rear- guard of the 
regiment until they passed through town. I 
was then ordered to dismount, and was taken 
to the office of the Provost Marshal. It was in 
the upper story of the court-house. The chief 
of the guards then said : 

"Provost, I have brought you a prisoner 
whom we arrested yesterday evening, and ex- 
amined. He has a certificate of exemption, and 
says he is going to Huntsville on business."* 

* I had matured the following answer, if the nature of 
my business at Huntsville was demanded, viz : That I 
had an aged uncle living at that place, who owned a 
number of negroes ; that one of his negroes had made an 
attempt to go to the Union army, but was captured ; that 
being fearful that the runaway would make the attempt 
again, and perhaps induce others to join him, my uncle 
wrote to me and requested me to come and take this negro 
to Texas, and work him about the mill until after the war. 

I knew that this story would go to show that my 
*' uncle" was a good rebel, and that would Also be in my 
own favor, inasmuch as it would show that I was trying 
to save negro property. This, and the plan of procuring 
the miller's certificate of exemption, and, indeed, the whole 
scheme of my escape, was matured while I remained as a 
conscript in the camp of instruction. 



174 



" Let me see jour certificate, sir," said the 
Provost Marshal. I handed it to him, and he 
examined it. It may be interesting to the 
reader. It reads as follows : 

CERTIFICATE OF EXEMPTION. 

Christian Luginbyhl, aged 29 years, of the county of 
Denton, State of Texas, having made oath that he is a 
miller, and is now actually engaged in keeping a public 
mill ; and that on that account he is exempt from con- 
scription by virtue of the Act of Congress, I, F. A. Leach, 
Enrolling Officer of Denton county, do hereby certify that 
the said Christian Luginbyhl will remain exempt from 
military duty as a conscript during the period that he 
shall remain in the employment of a miller. 

F. A. Leach, Enrolling Officer. 

Sworn to and subscribed before me at Denton this 2d 
day of August, 1862. 

Note.— Insert the occupation, profession, or service in which 
the person applying for exemption is engaged ; if an employee, 
state the employer and the establishment or business, and if a 
civil officer, state the term of office. 

TexasP tinting House, Houston, E. W. Cave. 

After reading this certificate, the provost 
marshal looked up and said : " Why, sir, this 
certificate only exempts you while you are in 
the employment of the mill. You are now 
away on business, and you are, therefore, a fit 
subject for the army, and out of my jurisdiction. 
I will send you to head-quarters at Fort Smith, 



EIGHTEEN MONTHS IN DIXIE. 175 

to the commander of the post, Major Pierce, and 
then you will be at his disposal." 

Not being altogether satisfied, he began to 
question me before the guards and a number of 
citizens. I had made up my mind when I was 
arrested, that I would exhibit no shrinking or 
fear, and would endeavor to answer all questions 
promptly, knowing that this was the best way 
to escape suspicion. 

" How does it come," said he, M that you did 
not get a pass before you left your own coun- 
ty?" 

" Because, sir, they had done away with mar- 
tial law some time before I left, the conscripts 
being all gathered into camps of instruction. 
Passes were not given, and if I had asked for 
one, they would have laughed at me. I brought 
my certificate of exemption along so as to be 
able to show my occupation ; my business was 
urgent, and I did not expect to be long absent. 
I did not think it possible that I would be 
caught up as I am, or you may depend I would 
not have left home. But, sir, I differ with you 
as to the construction of the language of the 
certificate, for I have been absent frequently for 
eight or ten days at a time, hauling flour to 
Fort Belknap, and was never even called on to 
show my certificate. »I am on business now 



176 THE YANKEE CONSCKIPT ; OK, 

just as important, and I think that if you read 
the certificate again, you will find you have no 
right to detain me." 

" It makes no difference what you think, sir, 
for I am satisfied you are a fit subject for the 
army. You are absent from the mill ; you are 
not engaged in the work of a miller, and your 
brother must get along without you. You 
will find that I am correct when you go to 
headquarters." 

" Where did you say you were going ?" he 
added. 

"ToHuntsville." 

" What did you say your uncle's name is ?" 

" McFarland ,* sir." 

He then addressed himself to a bystander. 

"You used to live in Huntsville. Do you 
know a man living there by the name of Mc- 
Farland?" 

"No, sir, I do not." 

" How long has it been since you lived there ?" 

"Nearly five years." 

" Luginbyhl, how long has your uncle been 
living there ?" 

" About two years." 

* I referred to the McFarland whom I have already men- 
tioned. He went from Texas to Nodaway county, Mis- 



EIGHTEEN MONTHS IN DIXIE. 177 

" Does lie live in town ?" 

" No, sir ; lie lives eight miles north-east of 
town."* 

"• Where did he reside previous to going to 
Huntsville ?" 

"In Cole Camp, Benton county, Missouri." 

" Where did you reside previous to going to 
Texas?" 

"In Warsaw,f on the Osage river, the 
county-seat of Benton county." 

"Name some of the prominent men of the 
place." 

" Mark L. Means is the most prominent man. 
He is a lawyer, and was the editor of the War- 
saw Democrat. Murry and Leach were the pro- 
prietors of the paper when 1" left." I also men- 
tioned a number of other names. This satisfied 

*This was all a conjecture. I have no uncle by the 
name of McFarland. I doubt whether there was a man 
of that name in the county ; and I was very fearful that 
he would keep me for a few days, until he could send to 
Huntsville, and learn whether my story was true or false. 
If he had done so, I would have been caught. Had he 
observed me closely, he might have detected a change in 
my countenance. An unseen Deliverer preserved me. 

•J- 1 was well acquainted in Warsaw. I had boarded 
there for some time in the months of June and July, 
1857, the Land Office being located there at that time. 

12 



178 THE YANKEE CONSCRIPT; OR, 

him, and he did not press questions. I began 
to breathe more easily. 

He then drew up a piece of writing for the 
guards to hand to Major Pierce, stating where 
I was from, and where taken prisoner, making 
mention, also, of my employment and certificate 
of exemption. 

While he was engaged in drawing up this 
paper, a young man was brought in by some 
of the provost guards. He belonged to the 
army at Corinth. His story was this, under 
oath: He and one of his comrades had been 
sick and unable to do duty while at Corinth. 
They had obtained from the captain a verbal 
leave of absence to go out a short distance into 
the country, and get something to eat. While 
absent from the company, they were made pris- 
oners by the Federals, sent to St. Louis, and 
paroled. He had then returned home to visit 
his wife, who was living in this county. A 
Captain Stanwitz, belonging to the same regi- 
ment, was then sworn. He had recently come 
home from Corinth on furlough. He said that 
he had heard the captain of the company to 
which the man belonged say that he never had 
given either him or his companion a verbal 
permission to go into the country, and that 
the general opinion was that they had deserted. 



EIGHTEEN MONTHS IN DIXIE. 179 

The captain's testimony was written down, and 
the Provost Marshal determined to send the 
prisoner to headquarters at Fort Smith, thirty- 
five miles distant. 

Some of the guards who were to escort us 
were getting their horses shod preparatory to 
the trip. My fellow-prisoner asked liberty to go 
down to town, and was permitted to go, under 
an escort. While he was gone, I began to talk 
with the Provost Marshal in an humble and 
submissive manner. I asked him if he could 
not give me a pass to go back to Texas, and 
told him if he would, I would abandon my trip 
to Huntsville, and go back to my mill imme- 
diately. He said he could not. In further 
conversation, I learned that he had formerly 
lived in Alton, the old county-seat of Denton 
county, Texas. lie began to make inquiry 
concerning some of his old friends, — among 
others, Judge Venters, with whom I was well 
acquainted. He seemed very glad to hear 
from his old associates. I asked him how long 
it had been since he left Alton, and he replied 
that it was about eight years. I told him there 
had been a great change in the country since 
that time. I said that I had been in the coun- 
try only five years, and that in that time won- 
derful improvements had been made, and the 



180 THE YANKEE CONSCRIPT; OR, 

population of the country had greatly increased. 
I told him that the county-seat had been re- 
moved from Alton to Denton, and gave him 
other information with which he was greatly, 
pleased. I saw that his sympathy was excited 
in my behalf; that he was inclined to pity me 
on account of the mistake I had committed in 
leaving the mill, under the persuasion that my 
certificate of exemption would carry me safely 
to Huntsville, and back again ; and I was not 
without hope that I would yet gain my point. 
I repeatedly asked him to do me the favor to 
grant me a pass, in order that I might go back 
again; but he said it would be impossible. 
When I found that I could not succeed, I 
asked him, in a confidential way, what dispo- 
sition he thought would be made of me at 
headquarters. He replied that I would either 
be put in jail and kept as a prisoner until the 
close of the war, or put into some regiment. I 
wished to avoid going to headquarters, if pos- 
sible, for I was afraid of being recognized. 
Some men with whom I was personally ac- 
quainted were stationed there. If they should 
get their eyes on me, I knew my life was not 
worth a dead dog. While we were talking, a 
bystander interposed, and said: "Why would 
it not answer the same purpose to send the 



EIGHTEEN MONTHS IN DIXIE. 181 

prisoner to Colonel Bass? You say lie can 
not go back to his mill, and that the com- 
mander of the post will either put him in 
prison or in some regiment. As it is thirty- 
five miles to Fort Smith, and as the regiment 
of Colonel Bass will not encamp further than 
eighteen miles from here this evening, it will 
be easier for the guard to take him to the 
Colonel than to headquarters. Besides, he has 
a horse ; he will be prepared to enter the regi- 
ment at once; and I do not see why Colonel 
Bass can not receive him just as well as the 
commander of the post." 

"He can," said the Marshal; "and if the 
prisoner says so, I can forward him this even- 
ing to the Colonel." This was just what I 
wanted, seeing I must otherwise go to Fort 
Smith, which I wished to avoid, if possible. 
From information gained from the young man 
in whose company I traveled on the 28th, I 
was led to believe that no one in the regiment 
knew me. While in the regiment, I would be 
comparatively safe. It was going to Missouri ; 
I could desert again, and would then be within 
a short distance of the Union lines. I was de- 
lighted with this turn of affairs, but remained 
silent, lest over-anxiety should lead to sus- 
picion. I was detained and guarded in the 



182 THE YANKEE CONSCRIPT; OR, 

office of the Provost Marshal until half-past 
three o'clock. 

During this interval, I conversed freely with 
the Provost Marshal. He remarked to me, 
during the conversation, that my case was 
altogether different from that of the other 
prisoner. " Your certificate exempts you from 
military duty while you are engaged in the 
employment of a miller; you are arrested only 
because you are away from the mill," said he. 
" The other is a deserter ; I would not like to 
stand in his shoes." He then stated that he 
was well acquainted with the prisoner. He 
said that he had volunteered when the war 
first broke out, and was in the battle of Pea 
Eidge, where he displayed much gallantry; 
that he soon after became discontented, being 
influenced, as was supposed, by a brother who 
was a captain in the Union army ; that he de- 
serted, and came back to this county, hoping 
to be able to take his wife, and escape to the 
Union lines. " Now," said he, " it is of no use 
to send him back to his regiment, or put him 
into any other, for he would only desert again. 
When they get him to headquarters, sir, he 
will be shot, and then he will not have an op- 
portunity to desert." Ah ! had he only known 
the whole truth respecting me, what would 



EIGHTEEN MONTHS IN DIXIE. 183 

have been my fate ? Death, without pity and 
without mercy. My certificate was the only 
thing that saved me. I would not have parted 
with it for thousands upon thousands of dollars. 

Half- past three o'clock came. I once more 
asked the Provost Marshal if he thought there 
was any possible chance of returning home, 
after being taken to headquarters. He said it 
was not possible. I then told him that if he 
saw fit, he could send me to the regiment of 
Colonel Bass. He at once substituted the 
name of Colonel Bass for that of Major Pierce, 
the commander of the post. I then bade him 
farewell, remarking that the regiment was one 
in which I had no acquaintances, but that a 
good and true man would soon find friends 
among strangers. 

"Yes," said he, "that is true;" and added, 
" I think you will make a very good soldier." 
I replied that I did not know; that I had 
no experience as yet ; but expressed the belief 
that I could shoot a Yankee, if near enough. 
I had gained his confidence. He showed it by 
sending me to Colonel Bass under a guard of 
only two men. One of them was the chief of 
the provost guards, an old man above sixty 
years of age. He was armed with a squirrel- 
gun. The other was a young man about 



184 THE YANKEE CONSCRIPT; OR, 

twenty years of age. He was armed with a 
small five-shooter. Both of them rode very 
inferior ponies. My horse looked somewhat 
the worse of his trip ; still I would not have 
been afraid to run away from both of them, 
and I would have made the attempt had I been 
sure of gaining any advantage. As we rode 
along, I kept joking the old man, and told him 
that if he had not arrested me the evening 
before, he might have saved himself this trip. 
I told him that I would just as soon be in the 
army as out of it, and that I would have vol- 
unteered long ago had it not been for the diffi- 
culty of leaving my business. 

As we passed by a house on the way, he 
stopped to talk, and the young man and I rode 
on, and got some distance ahead. I told him 
that I was perfectly willing to be put into the 
regiment, and had no intention of trying to 
escape ; but said that we could play off a good 
joke at the old man's expense, if I were to 
start as if trying to get away, and he to pursue. 
It would have been serious earnestness instead 
of fun with me, if there had been any chance 
of escape ; but the country was mountainous ; 
we were on the only road leading to Hunts- 
ville, and the regiment was ahead of us : there 



EIGHTEEN MONTHS IN DIXIE. 185 

was no hope. I related the contemplated joke 
to the old man when he caught up, and he had 
a hearty laugh about it. As we rode along, I 
observed great numbers of buzzards flying 
lazily about over the mountains. On inquiring 
the cause, I was informed that many conscripts 
had escaped to the mountains, and were pur- 
sued with blood-hounds; that when found, 
many of them were shot in attempting to 
make their escape, scalped, and their bodies 
left unburied on the ground. This easily ac- 
counted for the presence of so many buzzards. 
We stopped about six o'clock and obtained 
supper and fed our horses ; then set forward 
again, and about ten o'clock came in sight of 
the place where the regiment was encamped. 
The guards being stationed, we halted and put 
up for the night. We all slept in the same 
room, and the door was left unguarded and 
standing open — quite a contrast when compared 
with the vigilance of the guards the night 
before. The morning of the third day of the 
month came, and I was conducted into the pres- 
ence of Colonel Bass. " Colonel," said the old 
man, " I have brought you a young man who 
wishes to join your regiment," at the same time 
handing him the paper from the Provost Mar- 



186 THE YANKEE CONSCRIPT; OR, 

shal. The colonel read the note, and then star- 
ing me in the face, said : 

" Do you know me ?" 

"No, sir, I do not." 

" Are you not from Denton county, Texas ?" 

" Yes, sir, I am ; but I do not know you." 

"I am from Sherman, the adjoining county, 
and have practised law in Denton, your county- 
seat." 

" That may be, but I do not know you." 

" How long have you lived in the county ?" 

" About five years, sir." 

"Well, I have not practised law in your 
county during the last five years. Who are 
your lawyers in Denton ?" 

" Welch, Carrol, Crawford and Shotes." 

" Who is your county clerk ?" 

" Judge Yenters, sir." 

" Name the merchants of the place." 

"J. M. Smoot, Baines, Blunt, Lovejoy and 
Jacobs." 

" Where is your mill located ?" 

"On Clear creek, sixteen miles north-east 
from Denton." 

" Where did you reside previous to going to 
Texas ?" 

" In Warsaw, Benton county, Missouri." 



EIGHTEEN" MONTHS IN DIXIE. 187 

" Luginbyhl is your name, is it not ?"* 

"Yes, sir, Luginbyhl." 

He still kept staring at me, and repeating the 
name of Luginbyhl. I felt assured that if he 
had known my real name he would have recol- 
lected something of me. The name of Fisher 
had become well known in consequence of the 
affair growing out of my brother's subscribing 
for the Missouri Democrat, as I have before 
related. He then delivered me to one of his 
captains, Bruice by name, and ordered him to 
value my horse and equipage, and administer 
the usual oath. All was done according to 
orders. My horse and outfit were valued at 
one hundred and twenty-five dollars. The 
captain then wrote down a description of my 
person, which, in some particulars, differed ma- 
terially from that taken by the Provost Marshal 
at Denton, on the first day of August preceding, 
when I was conscripted and compelled to take 
the oath of allegiance. Captain Bruice guessed 
at my hight, and came within two inches of it. 

* This searching examination was entirely unexpected. 
From what I had heard of the regiment, I was led to "be- 
lieve that they were all strangers to me, and that they 
would know nothing about Denton. I picked up courage, 
however^ and answered the colonel very independently. 



188 THE YANKEE CONSCRIPT; OR, 

He wrote out the description, and then re- 
marked : 

" I have something now that will bring yon 
back if you desert." 

"Yes, sir, I think so," replied I. 

I was then entitled to the bounty of fifty 
dollars. He did not pay it, however, and I did 
not insist on its payment, for it was my deter- 
mination not to remain long in the Confederate 
dominions, and the money would have been of 
no use elsewhere. Colonel Bass soon after came 
up, and took Captain Bruice aside, and held a 
private conversation with him. I think the 
substance of the colonel's message was that the 
captain should keep his eye on me, for it looked 
a little suspicious that a man should join a regi- 
ment so far away from home. 



EIGHTEEN MONTHS IN DIXIE. 189 



CHAPTER XL 

More Inquisitors — A Battle in Progress — A Forced March- 
Camping for tlie Night — Glee of the Troops — A netv Name 
Troublesome — Incidents of the March — Prisoners — Execu- 
tion of Deserters— Ordered to Keetsville — Old Camps — An 
Alarm and, a Scare — Retreat to Frogg's Bayou — Sent out 
on Picket — At the Mill — Gatheriny Corn — The Drove of 
Hogs — Escape, 

When the colonel left, I was further questioned 
by the captain, first, second, and third* lieuten- 
ants. They were from Johnson county, the 
second county south of Denton, and were ac- 
quainted to some extent in the latter county. 
Bat they had never heard of the name of Lu- 
ginbyhl, and could learn no more than that the 
bearer of the name was pretty well acquainted 
in and about Denton, and could give them some 
information of all the men of their acquaintance. 
The news soon spread through the regiment 
that a man by the name of Luginbyhl, lately 
from Texas, had joined them. All was cu- 
riosity. Captains and lieutenants had scarely 
closed their court of inquisition when up came 

* The office of third lieutenant was established in order 
to gratify, as far as possible, the insatiable thirst of South- 
erners for office. 



190 THE YANKEE CONSCRIPT; OR, 

a bit of a boy, from his appearance not more 
than fourteen years of age, saying that his name 
was Lnginbyhl, and claiming kindred. Not 
wishing to be annoyed by the impertinent little 
imp, I asked him to spell his name, and he 
began : Look-ing-bill, Lookingbill. I told him 
that he could not be a kinsman of mine, for his 
was a different name ; he left, and I was asked 
no more questions. 

The regiment resumed its march about eight 
o'clock. As we crossed over the Mulberry 
mountains, I left the letter which had been 
given me on the other side of Ozark, as I have 
already stated. About ten o'clock, Colonel Bass 
received a message from General Eaines, on the 
old battle ground of Pea Eidge, instructing him 
to come with all speed to headquarters. A 
battle was then going on between General 
Blunt and the rebel General Cooper, in Newton 
county, Missouri. When this news reached the 
regiment, we were halted, and three thundering 
cheers were given for General Cooper. The 
mountains were in many places very difficult to 
cross ; the train of wagons had great difficulty 
in keeping up with the regiment ; the teamsters 
seemed to be in mortal dread of falling into the 
hands of some scouting party of the Yankees ; 
and it was found necessary to halt, sometimes 



EIGHTEEN MONTHS IN DIXIE. 191 

for nearly an hour at a time, to allow the train 
to come up. Evening found us about eighteen 
miles from the camping ground of the night 
before. The colonel gave orders to prepare 
rations sufficient to carry us to headquarters, 
intimating that it was his intention to push the 
regiment through as soon as possible, and leave 
the train to follow as it could. Two beeves 
were killed. "When the meat was cut up and 
divided, but a small part fell to each mess. My 
mess consisted of four besides myself. It was 
the smallest in the regiment, and, I have no 
hesitation in saying, the meanest. Yery little 
escaped my notice, for I was eagerly watching 
for anything that might aid my escape. I ob- 
served, after we had encamped for the night, 
that the men, in going outside of the lines of the 
guard for wood and water, were obliged to leave 
their hats or coats, or some other necessary 
articles of apparel, with the guard, until their 
return. After roll-call, no one was allowed to 
pass outside the lines. 

Morning came, and our regiment was on 
the march bright and early, going on " double 
quick." We very soon left the train far in 
the rear. The soldiers appeared to be very 
much excited, and anxious to get into a fight. 
Cheer after cheer went up ; and all were san- 



192 THE YANKEE CONSCRIPT ; OR, 

guine and buoyant. Missouri was soon to be 
rid of the Yankees ; they would all eat their 
Christmas dinner in St. Louis; they would 
clothe themselves in the warm overcoats and 
cover their protruding toes in the comfortable 
boots which Uncle Sam had intended for his 
boys. Hurrah ! hurrah ! But hurrahs are not 
potent missiles of war ; and, alas ! for their cold 
backs and frost-bitten toes ! they did not reach 
St. Louis; and unfortunately for their fond 
anticipations of plenty to eat and little to do, 
they ate their Christmas dinner on the south 
side of the Arkansas river. It was well these 
valiant champions did not know they had a 
Yankee conscript among them. Their valor 
would probably have been signally displayed 
in hanging or shooting him. 

Between three and four o'clock, we arrived 
within four miles of Huntsville. Here we 
halted, watered and fed our horses, and took a 
cold check of the rations which we had already 
prepared. After a short delay, we again set 
forward, and passed through Huntsville a little 
after dark. The ladies cheered us lustily as we 
passed through, standing on the streets and 
waving their handkerchiefs with wild anima- 
tion. While going through the town, one of 
my companions remarked that if he were in my 



EIGHTEEN MONTHS IN DIXIE. 193 

circumstances, lie would ask the captain for a 
furlough. I told him that it would please me 
very much to get a furlough, in order that I 
might go and spend a few days with my uncle, 
but that it would be useless for me to ask for 
one while we were on a forced march, and I 
would not attempt it. After passing beyond 
the town a little distance, we turned to our left, 
and took the Bentonville road, in the direction 
of General Eaines's headquarters. About one 
o'clock on the following morning, we stopped 
and fed, and, after a halt of about an hour, we 
again set out, and made no other halt until we 
reached headquarters, about two o'clock in the 
afternoon. This was Sabbath, the 5th. 

Very often during the march, my assumed 
name caused me difficulty. Frequently the 
men would have to speak to me twice before 
they could gain my attention ; for my mind 
was intently fixed on plans for my escape, and 
I was not used to answer to the name of Lu- 
ginbyhl. They thought I was hard of hearing. 
I came very near betraying myself several 
times, by answering to the name of George. 
There was a soldier in the company by the 
name of George, and I was often on the point 
of answering when his name was called. I 
observed, while we were on the march, some 
13 



194 THE YANKEE CONSCRIPT; OR, 

high bluffs along White river, on which the 
rebels had cut down all the timber, in order 
that their artillery might sweep the river, if 
the Union gunboats should attempt to pass up. 
General Cooper had commenced to fall back 
to Pineville, and General Kaines gave orders to 
Colonel Bass to encamp five or six hundred 
rods to the south of his men. During the bat- 
tle at New Antonio, the Indians under General 
Cooper had cut off a hundred and twenty -eight 
men belonging to the command of General 
Blunt. They were endeavoring to support a 
piece of artillery when captured. The prison- 
ers were sent to General Eaines. As soon as 
the men of our regiment had made their ar- 
rangements for encamping, many of them 
flocked to see the Yankee prisoners. I went 
among others. I found them in a small en- 
closure surrounded with a brush fence. Sen- 
tinels stood at short intervals, guarding them. 
A great many of the soldiers of our regiment 
were standing round the enclosure, looking at 
the Yankee prisoners. Many were the remarks 
which were passed. Some would tell the sen- 
tinels to beware of the Texans; for, if they 
should get into the enclosure, they would kill 
every prisoner. Others said that if this was 
the kind of men they were fighting, one South- 



EIGHTEEN MONTHS IN DIXIE. 195 

era man would whip ten of them. The pris- 
oners were principally Dutch from "Wisconsin. 
Many of them were bare-headed, and the only 
clothing they had on were pants and shirts. 
The day on which the battle had been fought 
was warm, and they had thrown off all their 
upper clothing. This information I gained 
from a lieutenant who came to our camp, and 
with whom I went to see the prisoners. 

General Haines had under his command, at 
that time, three thousand infantry. Colonel 
Bass received orders to send out thirty-two 
men on picket, from ten to twenty miles on the 
road leading to New Antonio. Our regiment 
had made a forced march of thirty -six hours' 
duration, stopping only twice to feed. Eations 
we had none when we arrived, for our train 
was miles in the rear, and did not arrive until 
the next day. The reader may well imagine that 
•we were a set of hungry men. It seemed hard 
to require fatigued and hungry men to do pick- 
et duty. But we had to make the best of our 
condition. The Colonel procured a few sacks 
of flour, and distributed them among the men. 
Having no cooking utensils, we were obliged 
to mix the flour in water, knead it on boards, 
and then roll it on sticks, and roast it over the 
fire. The bread thus baked was devoured with 



196 THE YANKEE CONSCRIPT; OR, 

voracious greediness by the half-famished men. 
Early the next morning, the beating of 
drums at headquarters indicated that some- 
thing was going on. Some of our regiment 
went to ascertain the cause of the excitement, 
and, on returning, reported that the Yankee 
prisoners were about to be taken down to Yan 
Buren, for incarceration in the penitentiary at 
that place. There were a few of the Missouri 
militia among the prisoners. The militia were 
handcuffed, two and two together, and in this 
way were marched out, and taken to Yan 
Buren. 

About ten o'clock, Colonel Bass marched our 
regiment up to headquarters for inspection, as 
he said, but, as I think, to make a display of 
his men. During the day, I obtained from one 
of the soldiers a short history of two deserters 
who had been executed one week before. One 
of them claimed to be a deserter from the 
Union army. He joined the Confederate army. 
Soon after he again resolved to desert, and per- 
suaded another man to join him. They each 
stole a horse, and started in company for the 
Union lines, but were both caught, brought 
back, and shot. Ten men were appointed to 
execute the sentence, five to each man. My 
informant was one of the number. Some of 



EIGHTEEN MONTHS IN DIXIE. 197 

the guns were loaded with blank cartridges. 
The hands of the deserters were tied behind 
their backs, a red spot placed on their left 
breasts, and they were placed at the distance 
of about five yards. The Union deserter knelt 
down, and prayed to the last moment that Al- 
mighty God might give success to the cause of 
the Union, and bring all the plans and pur- 
poses of the rebels to confusion. He was shot 
while still praying. The other stood on his 
feet, and was shot at the same moment. My 
informant added that he did not know whether 
his gun was loaded with ball or not ; but if it 
was, he was sure he had pierced the heart of 
one of the victims. 

On the evening of this day, Colonel Bass 
sent out thirty-two men on picket, to relieve 
others who had been on duty. I was put on 
camp-guard, and was strongly inclined to desert 
during the night. I finally concluded that it 
would be safer to wait a day or two longer. 

On Tuesday morning, the 7th, Colonel Bass 
received orders to march to Keetsville, to re- 
inforce two cavalry regiments that were sta- 
tioned at that place. These regiments were 
under the command of Colonels Johnson and 
Hopps, from Dallas county, Texas. Keetsville 
is on the Fort Smith and Springfield road, and 



198 THE YANKEE CONSCRIPT; OR, 

is about sixty-three miles from Springfield. 
While we were on the march from Ozark to 
headquarters, there was a rumor afloat that 
General Holmes was on his way from Little 
Eock to the headquarters of General Kaines, 
with twenty thousand men, ana that he was 
only a few days' march in the rear of our regi- 
ment. It was also said that an officer was 
ahead selecting encampments, engaging quar- 
termasters' stores for the use of the army, and 
pressing the mills along the route to grind 
meal. A member of our regiment received a 
letter from Little Eock, stating that General 
Holmes was not coming to Missouri, in conse- 
quence of the presence of General Curtis in the 
neighborhood, who was likely to give him 
plenty to do without going elsewhere to seek 
for glory. On receiving this information, the 
men were depressed very much in spirit. 
Before, they had been quite buoyant, thinking 
that the combined forces of Generals Cooper, 
Eaines and Holmes, aided by three regiments 
of cavalry, would be certain to rid Missouri of 
the Yankees. When our regiment was within 
a mile and a half of Keetsville, we came to the 
camp of Colonel Johnson. Being alarmed at 
the reported approach of the Union forces, he 
had left Keetsville, and retreated to this distance 



EIGHTEEN MONTHS IN DIXIE. 199 

from the town. Colonel Bass, instead of going 
on to Keetsville, ordered a halt, and arrange- 
ments were made to encamp within the distance 
of about four hundred rods of Colonel Johnson's 
regiment. Our camping ground was on the 
farm of an old secessionist. It had been occu- 
pied about ten months before by the Union 
army; and there was still standing a large 
number of ovens which had been built by the 
German soldiers. On the march to this camp- 
ing ground, we passed, for a considerable dis- 
tance, along a small stream, with high hills on 
both sides. Here many axes had been at work. 
For miles, nearly all the timber had been cut 
down in the valley and along the slopes of the 
hills. On inquiry, I found this had been done 
by order of General McCullough, when on the 
retreat from Springfield, to delay the progress of 
the Union army. 

After completing our arrangements for en- 
camping, I was notified by Captain Bruice that 
two of our mess, myself and another man, 
would be put on picket in the morning for 
twenty-four hours. I was ordered to prepare 
food for two of us for that time. Our mess had 
been reduced to three, two of our number 
having been detailed to assist in driving the 
beeves, and another was sent out as a guard 



200 THE YANKEE CONSCRIPT; OR, 

with the forage wagons. After supper, another 
was placed on camp guard. About nine o'clock, 
news arrived that we were going to be attacked. 
Orders were immediately issued to load the 
wagons and harness the mules, so as to be 
ready to march at a moment's warning, and, if 
necessary, to retreat as speedily. Every man 
was ordered to saddle his horse and fall into 
line. I never saw a worse frightened set of 
men; many were so greatly agitated and 
alarmed, that they were scarcely capable of 
motion, and they could hardly distinguish their 
own horses. In a little while, however, every 
captain had his men in line. Thinking that if 
we should be attacked a good opportunity for 
effecting my escape would be afforded, I plead 
hard with the captain to allow me to remain 
out of line, urging as reasons for this desire, 
that I was unarmed and undrilled. I asked in 
vain. The captain replied that if I had nothing 
to fight with, I was no more unfortunate than 
others ; for many of the regiment were in the 
same dilemma, their guns having been sent to 
Fort Smith for repair, while they remained at 
Ozark, and were not yet returned. He also 
considerately informed me that, though un- 
armed and undrilled, I might be the means of 
saving the life of some armed and drilled soldier 



EIGHTEEN MONTHS IN DIXIE. 201 

by stopping the velocity of a Yankee bullet ! 
This was cold comfort, but there was no help 
for it ; I was obliged to file in ; we were drawn 
up in line of battle within a few rods of Colonel 
Johnson's regiment, and kept in that position 
for several hours. How I longed for the attack ! 
for I was resolved that I would be among the 
missing. But my wishes were not gratified. 
The colonel finally gave orders for every other 
man to fall back a few feet, so as to form a 
double file.' We were then ordered to dismount 
and sit down, and hold our horses by the bridle 
until morning. I saw several the next morning 
who had been pretty badly bruised and tram- 
pled, in consequence of going to sleep. As 
soon as it was clearly light, we returned to 
camp, and ate our breakfast by sunrise. Cap- 
tain Bruice then called out thirty-two of his 
men, I being one of the number, and ordered 
us to be ready in a few minutes to go with him 
to relieve those who were on picket. He also 
provided me with a gun. At the appointed 
time, we set out for headquarters to receive 
orders. On our way, we met General Eaines's 
men on the retreat, going to Frogg's Bayou, 
they having also heard of the rumored attack. 
As we passed along, I discovered that they 
were all armed with United States muskets, the 



202 THE YANKEE CONSCRIPT; OR, 

barrels and bayonets shining as bright as sil- 
ver. I noticed that the artillery was princi- 
pally in the rear. I was very uneasy, as we 
passed along, for fear of being recognized; 
and, to avoid the danger, kept my hat pulled 
down over my face as much as possible. This 
was no new fear. I was constantly in a state 
of great uneasiness, ever since we arrived at 
headquarters, and moved about as little as 
possible. I knew that if I should come in 
contact with General Cooper's men, I was 
almost sure of being recognized; for I was 
well acquainted with some of them, they being 
from my own county. Captain Bruice received 
orders to go out toward New Antonio, and 
relieve the first squad of pickets, and start 
them back to the regiment. A few men were 
to be left at this point, and the rest were to 
proceed to the next picket station, relieve those 
on duty there, then all return together to the 
first station, where Captain Bruice was directed 
to remain all night, and return to the regi- 
ment in the morning. The first picket station 
was at an old, dilapidated mill in McDonald 
county, Missouri. We reached it about two 
o'clock P. M. This was on Wednesday, the 
8th day of October. The mill stood on the 
bank of the creek. Below the dam was the 



EIGHTEEN MONTHS IN DIXIE. 203 

crossing of the public road leading to the 
southward. It was the only crossing place 
within many miles. On arriving at the mill, 
we halted to relieve the men on duty. Now, 
thought I, is my time. If I could only per- 
suade the captain to leave me at the mill, I 
would have a good chance for effecting my 
escape. I had heard the captain say that it 
would be after ten o'clock when they would 
return from the other picket station. It was 
about ten miles distant. Several were anxious 
to be left at the mill as well as myself. I 
alighted from my horse, hoping the captain 
would leave me for one. But no ; he gave 
five others permission to stay, and ordered me 
to mount, saying that four men were plenty to 
leave on guard ; he had now permitted five to 
remain, and could not allow any more to stay, 
for fear we might be attacked in going to 
relieve the other pickets. If we should be 
attacked, the more there were of us, the better 
chance would we have of defending ourselves. 
I grumbled, and made a good many excuses, 
stating that my horse's back was very sore; 
that, as I knew nothing of military tactics as 
yet, I would be of little account in case of an 
attack, &c. 1 soon found that it was his inten- 



204 THE YANKEE CONSCRIPT; OR, 

tion to take me along so that he could keep his 
eye on me. 

I was very much disheartened, for I well 
knew that I would have no opportunity to 
escape in going to relieve the second squad of 
pickets,. unless we should be attacked by the 
Federal pickets. It would be late when we 
would get back to the mill, so that my chance 
of escape would not be favorable. I was deter- 
mined, however, to make an attempt to escape 
that day, let the consequences be what they 
would. Fortunately — and very fortunately, 
indeed, for me — -just as we were fairly started 
from the mill, a young man whom I had ac- 
commodated, a few days before, by supplying 
him with a part of my lariat to make a halter 
for his horse, for which I would take no pay, 
interposed in my favor, and said : " Captain, 
the back of Luginbyhl's horse is very sore ; he 
is not fit to ride with such a back, and I think 
it would be better to let him remain with the 
others. Six will not be too many to guard the 
ford ; and I think we will have plenty, without 
him, to reach the other station." 

"Well, Luginbyhl," said the captain, "if 
that is the case, and as you appear rather 
scary, I suppose that I can let you remain." 

Header, you may imagine my feelings; I 



EIGHTEEN MONTHS IN DIXIE. 205 

can not describe them. I wanted to get from 
under the captain's eye, and I had succeeded. 
I and three others were then ordered to go up 
the creek a short distance, and gather corn for 
our horses. We were ordered not to unsaddle 
them, lest, in case of an attack, we should not 
be prepared for it. "We were directed, also, to 
gather corn sufficient for all the horses, and 
have it ready against their return. The day 
was very cloudy, and had been threatening 
rain all forenoon. The captain and his men 
were gone but a little while when it began to 
rain. This was fortunate for me ; for the only 
man in our little company who, I feared, might 
suspect me, had the chills occasionally. When 
it began to rain, he remarked that he thought 
he was going to have a chill. He then got on 
his horse, and, after requesting me to tell the 
captain, when he returned, where he was, he 
rode down the creek a short distance, to a 
house which stood in sight. Before leaving, 
he also requested me to let him know in case 
the captain should determine to leave the mill 
during the night. This I readily promised to 
do, being abundantly glad to get him out of 
the way. 

The rain continued to increase, and appear- 
ances indicated that it would continue for some 



206 THE* YANKEE CONSCRIPT; OR, 

time. I did not intend to desert until near 
night, so as to have the advantage of darkness 
in case I should be pursued. In the mean- 
time, I appeared to be ^anxious to obey the 
instructions we had received. The rain still 
continuing to fall pretty fast, I threw on my 
blanket, and said : 

" Come on, boys, all of you except two, who 
must stay to guard the crossing. We may as 
well gather our corn, and have done with it, 
for it has no appearance of clearing up." 

Off I started, and they followed; and in a 
short time we had quite a pile of corn gathered 
and laid on the ground near the mill. We 
then unbridled our horses and gave each one 
his share on the ground ; and, having completed 
our arrangements, we went into the mill and 
sat down. I hung up my blanket so that it 
might dry some against dusk, when I expected 
to need it again. In a few minutes, two of my 
comrades began to nod, and the other two were 
not far behind. They had slept little or none 
the night before; the weather was damp and 
cloudy ; they had nothing to occupy their minds ; 
and they were, therefore, very sleepy-headed. 
There was one among them who thought little 
of sleep. Other thoughts were too busy. Soon 
an unlooked-for circumstance aided me ma- 



EIGHTEEN MONTHS IN DIXIE. 207 

teriallj. I observed a drove of hogs coming 
down the creek. They were of all sizes, from 
the smallest to the largest. As soon as I saw 
them coming, it appeared to me that they were 
providentially sent to aid my purpose. I saw 
that now was my chance to escape without 
being suspected. The rain was falling in tor- 
rents. Yery soon the hogs reached the mill, 
and began to eat the corn. I got up, took my 
blanket, threw it over my head, went out, and 
began to clap my hands and shout at the hogs. 
I chased them up the creek, and as soon as I 
was out of sight of the mill, I slipped into the 
underbrush, and was off on the double quick, 
Again I bade farewell to Dixie. 



208 THE YANKEE CONSCRIPT; OR, 



CHAPTER XII. 

My Horse left behind— Celerity of Movement— Precautions 
against Surprise — A Hard Road to travel — A friendly Tree 
— A Comfortless Mest — Lost — An Alarm — Tight Boots in 
the wrong Place—Still bewildered — A Stranger — A dreary 
Night — Tfie Wrong Way seems the Might Way — A Narrow 
Escape — Close to a tvhole Regiment of Rebels — A Red in a 
Thicket— Lost Watch — A Talk with Rebel Women — Union 
Men — How I Lived on the Way. 

As soon as I was fairly out of sight of the mill, 
I took a northward course, and hurried onward 
as fast as the thick underbrush would allow. I 
was careful to leave no traces of my footsteps, 
lest they should discover the course I took, and 
pursue me. I was obliged to leave my horse. 
The loss was nothing when compared with 
liberty and safety, for I knew that, if caught, 
death was my doom. To be shot by rebels, for 
deserting the rebel cause, and for following the 
dictates of my own conscience, — it was horrible 
to think of! It was nothing to leave my 
horse when my safety required it. He was 
newly shod ; the country was broken and moun- 
tainous ; a thick growth of underbrush covered 
the ground ; in places it was almost impossible 
to proceed, even on foot; to escape on horse- 



EIGHTEEN MONTHS IN DIXIE. 209 

back was, therefore, impossible, unless I should 
travel by the public roads, and that would have 
been to expose myself to the constant danger 
of being arrested, taken back, and shot. It was 
after three o'clock when I set out after the hogs. 
Kough as the face of the country was, I seemed 
almost to fly. Every step seemed to be taken 
on springs. Miles appeared to be nothing in 
measuring, and I esteemed the distance as tri- 
fling, although it was eighty miles to Spring- 
field, where I expected to report to the Federal 
authorities. My horse was doing very well 
when I left him ; I had given him a good feed 
of corn, the first he had tasted since daylight 
that morning, and he was putting it out of sight 
pretty fast, while his master was slipping 
through the underbrush, as much excited as a 
wild man. 

I traveled about five miles in the general 
direction of the road leading to New Antonio, 
keeping at a considerable distance from the 
road, for fear of encountering some of General 
Cooper's men, who were said to be retreating 
southward. I then turned my course in a 
north-eastern direction, toward Springfield. 
Fearing pursuit, I determined to avoid all 
houses, so that my enemies should hear nothing 
of my whereabouts. I therefore avoided the 
14 



210 THE YANKEE CONSCRIPT; OR, 

roads and kept in the woods. I had no defen- 
sive arms ; my gun, which was a borrowed one, 
I left at the mill, not wishing to be encumbered 
with it ; and the only thing I carried with me 
in the shape of a weapon, was a small pocket- 
knife. I was determined, however, not to be 
arrested by one or two, but to fight to the last 
with clubs and stones, and sell my life as clearly 
as possible, rather than surrender and allow 
myself to be shot like a dog. I cut a good 
stout club, which I used in my flight as a walk- 
ing cane. As night approached, I came to a 
stream of considerable size, but after a little 
search, I found a shallow place, plunged in and 
crossed safely, not taking time to pull off my 
boots, for they were already as wet as water 
could make them. I had then to climb a moun- 
tainous bank some hundreds of feet in hight, 
and almost perpendicular in many places. 
Pulling myself up by laying hold of rocks and 
bushes, I finally succeeded in reaching the top 
very much fatigued by the exertion. Excite- 
ment in some measure supplied the place of 
strength, and I pushed rapidly forward, up hill 
and down, sometimes becoming so entangled in 
the thick brush, that I would be obliged to get 
down on my hands and knees, and crawl for 
rods at a time, while I was completely soaked 



EIGHTEEN MONTHS IN DIXIE. 211 

with the falling rain and dripping brush. 
About two or three o'clock in the morning, as 
I was descending a hill, I came to a large tree 
which leaned very much. Feeling exceedingly 
fatigued, I determined to take advantage of the 
shelter which it promised, and rest awhile. It 
afforded a secure refuge from the wind and rain, 
but after all, I did not enjoy much rest. I 
could not sleep, and being very warm when I 
sat down, I soon began to shiver with cold. I 
found that if I did not try to warm myself, I 
was in danger of perishing. I therefore got up 
and started onward, but with a very different 
step, for my joints had become quite stiff and 
sore. I fortunately had the advantage of a full 
moon, and although the night was cloudy and 
wet, it was light enough to enable me to make 
my way through the wilderness with compara- 
tive ease ; not being able to see the moon, how- 
ever, it afforded me no assistance in making out 
the direction in which I was traveling. I soon 
became bewildered. 

Early in the morning, I came in sight of an 
opening in the timber. It proved to be the 
public road. I approached, it cautiously, and 
halted some distance from it to make observa- 
tions. Neither hearing nor seeing any human 
being, I approached the road, and slipped over, 



212 

being very careful to leave no footmarks where 
I crossed. I had only passed a few hundred 
yards beyond, when I distinctly heard the clat- 
tering of a horse's feet on the road. I imme- 
diately sat down, being so completely screened 
by the underbrush as to make it impossible to 
see me from the road. I could see the road 
from my hiding-place, and soon discovered an 
armed man riding along at full speed. I did 
not know him, but I could not help thinking 
that he was on the search for me. I pushed 
on rapidly, not knowing whether I was trav- 
eling the right or the wrong course. I was 
constantly annoyed by water-courses, which, 
though mostly small at ordinary times, were 
now swollen to large-sized creeks by the heavy 
rains. A thin, light pair of boots, half a size 
smaller than I had been accustomed to wear, 
was my great annoyance. The wetness and 
roughness of the ground, and want of care in 
taking my steps, had caused them to run 
crooked. The one on my left foot ran to one 
side; the other ran over behind; and, at almost 
every step, my foot would draw partly out. 
To remedy the difficulty, I cut a strip off my 
blanket, and with my knife I cut a hole in my 
boot. Eunning the strip through this hole, I 
bound it round my ankle and instep. It obvi- 



EIGHTEEN MONTHS IN DIXIE. 213 

ated the difficulty in part, but not altogether ; 
for I was still annoyed with it more or less, 
though I kept pushing on. 

All this while, I had no correct idea of the 
direction in which I was traveling. I was lost. 
The rain still continued; clouds covered the 
sky ; I could not obtain even a passing glimpse 
of the sun. I concluded that there was no use 
in wearing myself down in traveling, when I 
did not know whether I was right or wrong; 
so I stopped, hoping that it would clear up by 
and by. But no. After resting about two 
hours, I was disappointed. The rain began to 
descend in torrents again. I had often heard 
it stated that the north side of trees could be 
determined by the appearance of the bark. 
During my delay, I examined the trees around 
me, but could come to no satisfactory conclu- 
sion. The rain being very cold, I imagined 
that it must have come from the north. I also 
took out my pocket-handkerchief, and held it 
up by one corner, to find out the direction of 
the wind. But there was a strong breeze blow- 
ing, and I failed again, for my handkerchief 
fluttered in all directions. Finding that I 
gained no information by the delay, and being 
very anxious to reach a place of safety, I again 
set forward, hoping that, by some means, I 



214 THE YANKEE CONSCRIPT; OR, 

could gain a knowledge of my whereabouts. 
Late in the evening, as I was working my way, 
with considerable difficulty, through the under- 
brush, making a circuit in order to avoid a 
house at a little distance, I suddenly came to a 
path leading from the house, as I suppose, to a 
spring. As I was about to cross, I discovered 
a man at a little distance to my right. He had 
not seen me, and I might have passed on unob- 
served ; but, being very anxious to find out 
where I was, I ventured to inquire. I knew 
that one man could not take me, and I felt 
pretty sure he would not make the attempt; 
for my blanket concealed my person so well 
that he could not discover that I was without 
arms. Addressing the man in a very surly 
tone, I said : 

" What county is this, stranger ?" 
On hearing my voice, he looked around as 
if he was frightened ; and, in truth, my appear- 
ance was enough to frighten him, and the tone 
of my voice was as surly and independent as if 
I carried with me the best and most effective 
weapons. In reply to my question, he said : 
9 This is Benton county, Arkansas, sir." 
I saw then that I was badly lost, but I con- 
tinued : 

"Where is the Fort Smith and Springfield 
road?" 



EIGHTEEN MONTHS IN DIXIE. 215 

" A few miles north of my house." 
This information communicated a world of 
light. I knew that after I once got back to 
the road, by keeping along in its vicinity, and 
traveling in the same direction, I would even- 
tually, reach my destination. Fearing the man 
might suspect me of being a deserter, and that 
he might gather together some of his neigh- 
bors and pursue me, I determined to baffle 
him and throw him off his guard as much as 
possible, if he should make the attempt. I 
asked : 

" Are there any houses along the road where 
I can stay over night?" 

" Yes, sir, there are houses all along the road." 
" What distance are they apart, generally ?" 
" Not very far, sir ; you will find no difficulty 
whatever. There are plenty of houses all 
along." 

After receiving this information, I retraced 
my steps rapidly, and soon reached the road. 
To my surprise, I was on the old battle ground 
near the headquarters of General Kaines. I 
crossed over, being very careful to leave no 
footmarks in the road, and pressed onward, 
hoping to make better headway than I had 
done before. After traveling about two hours 
through tangled underbrush, over hills and 



216 THE YANKEE CONSCRIPT; OR, 

across streams, carefully avoiding all houses, I 
came to a rocky precipice many feet in hight. 
Dreading pursuit by blood-hounds, and wishing 
to take measures to elude them, I searched for 
a few minutes along the precipice and fouDd a 
place where I let myself down with great diffi- 
culty from rock to rock until I reached the 
bottom. I can safely say that no man ever 
descended in that place before. About ten 
o'clock, feeling a good deal the worse for my 
day's journey, the rain having ceased, I stopped 
for the night in a perfect thicket of underbrush, 
beneath the boughs of a large spreading oak. 
I cut a pile of pecan brush for a bed on which 
to stretch my weary limbs, and obtain some 
repose. But I could not sleep. Fear and the 
disagreeableness of the night banished rest. 
Through the long hours of that dreary night, I 
lay shivering and earnestly wishing for the 
dawn of day. It came at last. The rain ceased 
entirely after the middle of the night, but it 
still remained cloudy. As the day dawned, I 
discovered an opening through the trees. Get- 
ting ready for another day's journey, I went 
toward the opening, and found that it was the 
Fort Smith and Springfield road. I easily re- 
cognized it from the remains of old telegraph 
posts standing here and there. Becoming 



EIGHTEEN MONTHS IN DIXIE. 217 

bewildered again, during my few hours' travel 
in the evening, I could not for the life of me 
tell which end of the road to take. After a few 
minutes' meditation, the wrong end of the road, 
leading to Fort Smith, seemed to be the right 
one, and I started southward along the road, 
hoping that, if I were wrong, I would discover 
my mistake by some means before going far. 
It proved to be the case. I discovered that 
the road was full of horse tracks, all going the 
way I was traveling. Knowing that General 
Eaines was on the retreat on Wednesday morn- 
ing, and the stampede in camp on the last night 
I spent with the regiment of Colonel Bass, I 
came to the conclusion that I was traveling in 
the wrong direction. I at once retraced my 
steps, being, however, so completely bewildered 
that I could hardly persuade myself that I was 
not wrong in so doing. But I was not long in 
finding that I was now on the right track. I 
had not gone far, when I met four young men, 
who were unarmed and traveling on foot. As 
I passed, I inquired: 

"How far is it to Keetsville?" 

" Thirteen miles," was the reply. 

" You are going the wrong course, are you 
not ?" said they. 

"No, I am all right," I replied, and passed 
on. 



218 THE YANKEE CONSCRIPT 



Fortunately the road made a short curve a 
little distance ahead. As soon as I turned the 
curve, I slipped into the brush on the left side 
of the road. It was well for me that I did, for 
I had not gone more than two rods from the 
road, when I heard the clatter of horses ap- 
proaching. I squatted down immediately, so 
as to be concealed from view, and had scarcely 
done so, when fifteen or twenty soldiers, all 
armed, passed by. All this occurred before 
sunrise. So narrow an escape taught me cau- 
tion. I pushed rapidly onward, keeping at a 
safe distance from the road, and kept a more 
vigilant lookout in every direction. I was 
much annoyed by coming in contact with plan- 
tations, sometimes being obliged to make a 
circuit of miles in order to shun 1 them. The 
rain had ceased, but the weather still continued 
cloudy. I could only get an occasional glimpse 
of the sun, and, in consequence, lost my way 
again for some hours, in making a large circuit 
to get around some plantations. After con- 
siderable wandering, I again approached the 
road, and discovered a large flag waving in the 
breeze. I secreted myself, and saw a whole 
regiment pass by. I think it was my own regi- 
ment; if not, it was the regiment of Colonel 
Johnson or that of Colonel Hopps. About four 



EIGHTEEN MONTHS IN DIXIE. 219 

o'clock, I stopped to rest m y weary limbs. For 
several hours I had not seen the sun. Soon 
after I stopped, the sun shone out for a few 
minutes, and, to my surprise, I discovered that 
I had been traveling in a westward direction, 
having again lost my way. After a short rest, 
I resumed my journey, which was now over a 
very rough part of the country ; but I was 
rather pleased than otherwise with the nature 
of my route, as I had little fear of meeting any 
of my fellow beings in such a wilderness. 

Night brought me to a precipice several hun- 
dred feet in hight. Weariness almost forbade 
me to attempt the ascent, but anxiety to pro- 
ceed prompted me to make the effort. With 
a good deal of difficulty, I succeeded. Having 
reached the top, I made arrangements to spend 
the night. On the summit of the ridge, there 
was a perfect thicket of underbrush. I cut a 
quantity of pecan brush, and made a bed by 
the side of a large log, which served to shelter 
me from the wind, covered myself with my 
blanket, and tried to rest my aching body. 
Yery soon my attention was arrested by the 
lowing of an ox at a little distance, and imme- 
diately afterwards by the barking of a dog. I 
concluded that I was very near a house ; but 
after having taken so much pains to prepare 



220 THE YANKEE CONSCRIPT; OR, 

my bed, I determined to remain where I was. 
This was Friday, the 10th of October ; I shall 
never forget that night. It was clear and frosty. 
Sleep I could not, but lay shivering all night. 
Yery early in the morning, I got up and started. 
Every thing was white with frost. After travel- 
ing a few rods through the brush, I came to a 
small field, and saw a house a short distance to 
my right. The field had been freshly plowed, 
but it had frozen so hard during the night, that 
it easily bore my weight, and I passed over it. 
I shall refer to this place again, ere I close. 
After traveling about two miles, I came to the 
place where I had left the regiment on the 
morning that I was sent out on picket. I then 
knew the distance to Keetsville. Wishing to 
know the time, I put my hand to my pocket to 
take out my watch, and discovered that it was 
gone. I at once inferred that I had dropped it 
out of my pocket during the night, as I lay toss- 
ing and rolling by the side of the log. I knew 
that I had it when I stopped the evening before, 
and concluded that it had dropped out of my 
pocket during the night. I did not return to 
get it, for my feet were very sore ; I had made 
miserable progress; and I was still afraid of 
being captured. I determined to let my watch 
go, and pressed onward. 



EIGHTEEN MONTHS IN DIXIE. . 221 

I was in constant dread, fearing that I had 
been advertised as a deserter, and that every 
body would be on the lookout for me. I passed 
within sight of Keetsville, and continued on in 
the direction of Springfield. This day my feet 
began to pain me very much, and I was com- 
pelled to stop and rest at times. Sometimes I 
almost despaired of proceeding any further ; but, 
after a little rest, I would summon courage, and 
set out again, resolving that when I could not 
walk, I would crawl on my hands and knees, 
rather than venture to a house, until I felt satis- 
fied that I was within the bounds of Uncle 
Sam's protection. After a most fatiguing day's 
journey, just as the sun was sinking in the 
horizon, I came in sight of a little log cabin, 
standing in a field of corn. As I came up op- 
posite the house, I saw three women sitting on 
the outside. After satisfying myself that there 
were no men about, I determined to go boldly 
up to the house, and find out, if possible, if 
there were any Union men in the neighborhood. 
I went, called for a drink of water, which was 
handed to me, and then took a seat. I entered 
into conversation with the women, and very 
soon found out that they were bitter secession- 
ists, and that they had two brothers in the 
rebel army, and were now living alone in con- 



222 THE YANKEE CONSCRIPT ; OR, 

sequence of their absence. I of course claimed 
to be a rebel myself. They seemed to have 
some suspicion of me, for they kept eyeing my 
boots, which were almost torn to pieces, and 
also wanted to know where I lived, and why I 
was not conscripted. I replied that I lived in 
Bolivar, Polk county ; that I was a teacher by 
profession, and that on this account I was ex- 
empt from conscription. I also told them that 
I had been down in the lower part of this 
county to see a sister ; that while at my sister's, 
my horse had got away from me ; and that I 
was now on my way back ; that as I was not 
accustomed to walking, and my boots were too 
small, my feet had become very sore. All this 
appeared to be very satisfactory to them, and 
they asked no more questions. Now came my 
turn. I asked them how long their brothers 
had been in the army, and wanted to know if 
they did not think the Confederate army would 
soon rid Missouri of the Yankees. I also asked 
them if they knew where the Union army was, 
telling them that I was afraid that I might be 
caught on my way home by some of their 
scouts. I asked them if they knew of any 
person from whom I could procure a horse and 
a boy, to take me on a part of my journey. 
They said they did not know of any, except 



EIGHTEEN MONTHS IN DIXIE. 223 

two men living about a mile from there ; pointing 
to a little by-road below the house. 

"At the first two houses you come to," said 
they, " you will find men who have horses and 
boys, but they are both Union men, and of 
course you would not like to stop with either 
of them." 

"No!" replied I, quite angrily; "I will 
crawl on my hands and knees before I will 
stop at a Union man's house." How my ear 
drank in the sound when they spoke the words 
"Union men!" In a few minutes I started 
on my way rejoicing, and in a short time ar- 
rived at the first Union man's house. His 
name is Eay. He was, unfortunately, absent 
from home, and his wife informed me that she 
did not expect him home that evening. I told 
her who I was, showed her my certificate, and, 
after she was satisfied that my account was a 
correct one, and that I was a good Union man, 
she directed me to the next neighbor's, Mr. 
Hammon, who, she said, was at home, and was 
a good Union man. I went on immediately, 
and was soon seated in his house. I told him 
my name, showed him my certificate, in order 
to remove all doubt from his mind, and cor- 
roborate my story. I was treated like a long- 
lost brother. It seemed as though the family 



224 THE YANKEE CONSCRIPT; OR, 

could not be kind enough, or do enough for 
me. Yery soon the table was spread with an 
excellent supper. My appetite was ravenous; 
but prudence bade me to be careful, after so 
long a fast, and I therefore ate but little. Indeed, 
I had hardly thought of eating much, and had 
but very little to eat, as I shall show. This 
was the first time I felt hungry. After I sat 
down and rested, the soreness of my feet and 
the stiffness of my limbs were almost beyond 
expression. Fear, anxiety, and excitement 
were gone, and now I felt sensible of my true 
condition. 

I may go back now, and tell the reader how 
I lived during my journey. It will be remem- 
bered that the day before I made my escape, I 
had been ordered to prepare biscuit for rations 
during twenty -four hours on picket. I had just 
got one skillet-full of six small biscuits baked, 
and another ready to bake, when the false 
alarm was given that we were going to be 
attacked. Of course there was no more baking 
that day. The next morning I finished my 
baking, and the three of us ate all our warm 
biscuits, leaving my comrade and myself only 
three cold biscuits apiece for twenty-four hours' 
rations. I ate one of them on my way to the 
picket station. I had two when I started from 



EIGHTEEN MONTHS IN DIXIE. 225 

the old mill. On Tnursday, I gathered a few- 
hazel-nuts — an article which I had not seen for 
years before. They were quite a delicacy. On 
Friday, I chanced to find a solitary apple-tree, 
which had the large number of three apples on 
it. These I easily secured, but they were too 
hard and sour to be palatable. On the same 
day, I gathered a few mustang grapes; but 
they were unripe, and by no means enticing 
food. When I reached Mr. Hammon's, I had 
most of my second biscuit left, having saved it 
on the supposition that I would probably be 
obliged to walk on to Springfield before I 
could safely venture to any house, and ask for 
food. I can frankly say that I did not suffer 
with hunger, for fear and excitement left no 
room for a strong desire for food. I knew not 
the moment I might be caught ; and the know- 
ledge of the doom of the two deserters who had 
been executed but a little over a week before, 
kept me in continual dread. The distance 
from the old mill, where I left my dozing com- 
panions, to Mr. Hammon's, could not be more 
than thirty miles, in a direct line ; and yet, 
judging from the speed with which I traveled, 
I must have walked above a hundred miles. 
I was much discouraged, on Thursday even- 
ing, when I found myself in Benton county, 
15 



226 THE YANKEE CONSCRIPT; OB, 

Arkansas; but it may have been a very for- 
tunate mistake for me ; for if scouts were sent 
out after me, they would naturally scour the 
country northward, while I was going south. 
My only great suffering was in consequence of 
tight boots. To this day, my feet bear the 
scars of the sores caused by that terrible 
journey. 



EIGHTEEN MONTHS IN DIXIE. 227 



CHAPTER XIII. 

Fireside Conversation — Bushwhacking— Mr. Ray — A Tem- 
porary Cripple — Meet the Union Soldiers — A Contrast — 
Cassville — Report to General Schofield — Prisoners — 
Questions and Answers — A Letter — Under Guard — Pa- 
roled — Find my Watch — Visit a Secessionist — Mail Car- 
rier Shot. 

The last chapter left me comfortably seated by 
the fireside of Mr. Hammon. Conversation 
naturally turned on the exciting topics of the 
times — particularly the state of things in 
south-western Missouri. 

" When the war first began," said Mr. Ham- 
mon, " and the rebel army was in this part of 
the country, the secessionists would inform the 
army of the Union men, and then the rebels 
would drive off their stock, and take every 
thing else they needed. Then, after the battle 
of Pea Ridge, when the Union army had pos- 
session here, the Union men retaliated, and in- 
formed the soldiers of the men who were 
known to be of rebel proclivities, and they 
were robbed in turn. These proceedings cre- 
ated the bitterest enmity, and bushwhacking 
was the inevitable result. Men are shot every 
day in these clannish affrays." He then told 



228 THE YANKEE CONSCRIPT; OR, 

me that this was the reason of Mr. Eay's ab- 
sence from home. His life had been threat- 
ened by the secessionists, who declared they 
would shoot him as soon as they got their 
eyes on him. He was obliged to lie out in 
the woods, keeping his gun constantly by him, 
and could visit his house only at the dead 
hours of night, to get something to eat, and 
was then obliged to be off again to his hiding- 
place. It was common, he said, for men of 
both parties to live in this way, each being in 
constant fear of the other. He said the woods 
were full of bushwhackers, both Union men 
and secessionists; and he expressed surprise 
that I should have escaped both parties, for I 
stood a fearful chance of being shot by both — ■ 
by the Union men for a secessionist, and by 
the secessionists for a Union man. " It is cer- 
tainly a miracle," said he, "that you escaped 
both." I replied that if he could only see the 
road I traveled, he would not wonder so much 
at my escape. He was a man who had not 
taken a very active part in giving information 
against the secessionists, and no threats had 
been made against him, although he was known 
to be a Union man. 

Being anxious to report to the Federal au- 
thorities as soon as possible, lest I should be 



EIGHTEEN MONTHS IN DIXIE. 229 

taken for a rebel spy, I inquired of Mr. Ham- 
in on where the Union army was stationed, and 
where would be the nearest place to report. 
He replied that General Schofield was on the 
march, and would pass within three miles, on 
the Springfield and Cassville road, on his way 
to the latter place. I had left this town about 
eight miles to the south of me on my way to 
his house. Morning came. I was unable to 
walk. Mr. Hammon furnished me with a 
horse, which, with his assistance, I mounted, 
and he accompanied me on another. Nine 
o'clock found us on the Springfield road, and 
in the course of an hour we met a part of Gen- 
eral Schofield's forces, the rest having taken 
different roads. What a glorious appearance 
they made! All were mounted and well 
equipped, dressed in becoming uniform. I 
could not help noticing the great contrast 
between them and the tatterdemalions of the 
Confederacy. Uncle Sam's men looked like 
gentlemen in comparison. As they came up, 
we fell in, and marched down to Cassville. 
As soon as the soldiers found that I was a 
deserter from the rebel army, they rode by 
turn alongside of me, all being desirous of 
learning how I made my escape, and pressing 
me with numerous questions. Being with the 



230 

soldiers enabled me to pass the pickets without 
annoyance. When we arrived at Cassville, I 
made inquiry for General Schofield's head- 
quarters, and was conducted to a large hotel, 
where I found him. I had to obtain assist- 
ance in getting off my horse, and found great 
difficulty in walking after I dismounted. This 
day was Sabbath, the 12th day of October. 

Cassville is the county-seat of Barry county, 
Missouri. It is a small place, but it contains 
some very valuable buildings. The court- 
house, standing on the public square, in the 
center of the town, is a large and costly build- 
ing. It is a brick structure, and is two stories 
high. The lower story contains a hall running 
through the entire length of the building. On 
either side of the hall, there are two apartments ; 
all of them, at the time of which I speak, were 
filled with commissary stores. The second 
story consists of three apartments; one was 
occupied by the Provost Marshal; the others 
were used as prisons, there being about thirty 
prisoners in them at the time, most of them 
citizens who had been arrested for bushwhack- 
ing, a few deserters, and a few who had been 
captured at the battle of New Antonio. 

On reporting to General Schorleld, I was re- 
quested, as is usual, to give all the information 



EIGHTEEN MONTHS IN DIXIE. 231 

that I possessed respecting the rebels. I was 
put through a regular course of questioning, 
such as, where was I born and brought up? 
where and at what time was I conscripted? 
when and where did I first desert ? where was 
I arrested and returned to the army under my 
assumed name? where did I again desert? how 
many men had the rebels in the field? were 
they well armed ? what kind of arms were they 
mostly supplied with? how many men had 
General Eaines? how many had General 
Cooper? how many regiments were at Keets- 
ville ? were they expecting reinforcements ? &c. 
&c. Most of the above questions have been 
answered in the preceding pages. Such of them 
as have not, I will now answer for the informa- 
tion of the reader. General Eaines had eight 
pieces of artillery under his control. Generals 
Cooper and Steinwitz's united forces were about 
equal to those under command of General 
Eaines. The regiment of Colonel Bass was 
very poorly equipped, being armed principally 
with double-barreled shot-guns, as, indeed, most 
of the Texan soldiers were. I saw a few 
men purchasing revolvers at their own expense, 
and they were obliged to pay one hundred and 
twenty-five dollars apiece for them. A few 
also bought sabres on their own account, for 



232 

which they had to pay fifteen dollars apiece. 
There were at the time three thousand and five 
hundred unarmed conscripts at Elm Springs, in 
Benton county, Arkansas. 

The united forces of Generals Schofield and 
Totten consisted of about fifteen thousand men, 
mostly in the vicinity of Cassville on the day 
that I reported at that place. On the following 
Tuesday morning, they marched into Arkansas, 
expecting to offer battle to the enemy ; but when 
the rebels heard of their coming, they put off 
toward Yan Buren. After manoeuvering for 
about two months, Schofield succeeded in bring- 
ing them to an engagement. I will allow a 
young soldier with whom I became acquainted 
at Cassville, and who participated in the en- 
gagement, to describe it. I received a letter 
from him a little while afterwards, the correct- 
ness of which I think I can vouch for. It is as 
follows : 



Camp Schofield, February 7, 1863. ) 
Co. D, Sixth. Missouri Cavalry. ) 
Friend Fisher — 

Yours of January 20th. is at hand. In reply, I would 
say that it found me -well. I was very glad to hear of 
your safe return home. I think sincerely that you deserve 
praise for making your escape from those deluded devils 
and inhuman wretches. We have had a fight with them 
since I saw you. The fight took place on Sabbath, the 



EIGHTEEN MONTHS IN DIXIE. 233 

seventh, day of December, and continued until dark. 
During the night, the rebels tore up their blankets, and 
wrapped the wheels of their artillery wagons, and retreated 
without being discovered. On the pursuit the next morn- 
ing, we could track them for miles from the battle ground 
by the strips of blankets which had been cut from the 
wheels in passing over the rocks. We pursued them as 
far as Van Buren, expecting to get another fight out of 
them at that place. But no. The stampede had been so 
great that they would not stand fire. They would stop a 
few minutes, and let fly a few rounds from their artillery, 
but as soon as our batteries came up and let fly at them, 
they were off again. We captured three of their boats 
which had just come up the river from Little Rock, laden 
with sugar, molasses, bacon, crackers, clothing and arms. 
We also captured two ferry-boats and a hundred and sixty 
or seventy commissary wagons, besides a large stock of 
commissary goods which we found stored in town. The 
trip paid us very well. 

You stated that you had heard that Springfield had 
fallen into the hands of the rebels. We heard the same 
report, and also that they had burned the city ; but it is 
all a mistake. General Marmaduke had between five and 
seven thousand men when he made the attack, but he did 
not accomplish his design. He was met by Brown, who 
made him scamper in short metre. This battle was fought 
by the militia and a few of the citizens who came to town 
and fought like heroes, some of them at the same time 
being exempt from military duty on account of age, and 
unable to stand up straight for twenty years past. After 
his defeat at Springfield, Marmaduke thought he would 
try Lebanon, but unfortunately for him, he fell into the 
hands of some of the Kansas troops, and got worse whipped 
than before, for they drove him out of Missouri altogether, 
over the line into Arkansas. 



234 THE YANKEE CONSCRIPT; OR, 

Major Montgomery is well ; the Quartermaster and Pro- 
vost Marshal are both at Helena, on the Mississippi. 
General Schofield is still with us. The prisoners who 
were here before you left, have been sent to Springfield, 
all except a few who joined our battalion. The people 
here think that peace will soon be made ; tell me if there 
is any such talk in Ohio. 

Yours respectfully, 

R. D. Bowlbt. 

General Schofield left Major Montgomery in 
charge of a part of the Sixth Missouri Regiment, 
to guard Cassville. After reporting to General 
Schofield, he asked me if I had any acquaint- 
ances about Cassville who could vouch for the 
correctness of my statements. I told him I had 
not. He then stated that in accordance with 
military law, he would be obliged to keep me 
under guard for a short time. I was very well 
satisfied with the arrangement, for I felt as if I 
was among brothers, and was as well treated as 
if I had been. As to a guard, there was no 
necessity for any ; and even if I had been a 
rebel spy, there would not have been much 
necessity, for I was in no condition to attempt 
an escape, had I desired to do so. I was almost 
a cripple, and was very unwell for some days. 
With proper care and a few doses of calomel, I 
was soon restored to my usual health. During 
my illness, I wrote a letter to my father. I had 



EIGHTEEN MONTHS IN DIXIE. 235 

not heard from home for something near two 
years. I was anxious not only to hear from 
home, but also that my friends should know of 
my safety. I handed the letter, after I had 
written it, to the major to peruse and direct. 
After reading a few lines, he returned it to me, 
saying that he was satisfied that I was all right, 
and told me to direct the letter myself, which I 
did. The major laughed, and remarked that I 
wrote a pretty good hand for a rebel. The 
next day he paroled me. I was now at liberty 
to go where I pleased within the limits of Cass- 
ville, without a guard. I was the only deserter 
who enjoyed this favor. I was required to 
remain in Cassville until the major should get 
orders from General Schofield respecting what 
should be done with me. The Provost Marshal 
being pretty busy, called upon me occasion- 
ally to assist him, which I very willingly did. 

There were three hospitals in the place, in 
which there were about two hundred and fifty 
sick soldiers belonging to General Schofield's 
division. Out of this number, about two per 
week died on an average — a very small pro- 
portion. In conversation one day with the 
Provost Marshal, I remarked that I had lost 
my watch the last night that I lay out in the 
woods. He asked me if I thought I could find 



236 THE YANKEE CONSCRIPT; OR, 

the place again. I told him that I could readily 
do so. He then told me that I was at liberty 
to get a horse from one of the soldiers, and go 
and recover my watch. I replied that I was 
afraid of the bushwhackers, and would not go 
unless I could get some of the men to accom- 
pany me. This he readily granted, and accord- 
ingly, I and three soldiers set out immediately. 
"We easily found the place, and I got my watch 
lying under the pecan brush, as I had supposed. 
We then went and examined the ridge that I 
had clambered up, and a fearful looking place 
it was; it appeared almost impossible that a 
man could climb up such a place. After satis- 
fying our curiosity in looking at the precipice, 
we called on the gentleman living near by, as 
the reader will remember. He was not long in 
letting us know that he was a Union man, and 
that he had taken no part in assisting the rebels. 
He was formerly a citizen of Wood county, 
Ohio, whence he removed to Indiana, and from 
Indiana he had come to Missouri. He told me 
that if he had known that I was lying so near 
his house on the night in question, he would 
have saved me from suffering with the cold, 
and from the painful journey of the following 
day. This would have been pleasing and de- 
sirable enough, certainly, but I did not know 



EIGHTEEN MONTHS IN DIXIE. 237 

that I was so near a friend, and was afraid to 
venture toward the house, lest I should again 
fall into the hands of the Philistines. 

One of the soldiers then asked him if he 
knew of any secessionists in the neighborhood. 
He replied that he did, and mentioned the name 
of one living about a mile distant. He told us 
how we could reach his plantation, and then 
invited us to stop on our way back, and get 
dinner. In a short time we found ourselves at 
the rebel's house, and calling at the door, his 
wife made her appearance. On inquiring if 
her husband was at home, she replied that he 
was, and pointing to a new house at the dis- 
tance of about three hundred yards across a 
little ravine, she said that we would find him 
there. One of the soldiers rode over to the 
place, but could see no one. He then got off 
his horse and looked under the house and all 
round it, but no Mr. Secessionist could he find. 
The bird had flown on the first appearance of 
the " blue-coats," who are a great dread to all 
of his feather. Our object in the visit was to 
exchange some Confederate money for a seces- 
sionist horse. We returned to the house of 
our Union friend, who fed our horses; and 
during our stay, his wife prepared for us an 
excellent dinner, consisting of chicken pot-pie ; 



238 THE YANKEE CONSCRIPT; OR, 

Irish and sweet potatoes, &c. After dinner we 
returned to Cassville. The next day, on the 
very road we traveled, the mail-carrier was 
shot, near Keetsville, and the mail robbed. 
The unfortunate man was left for dead by the 
assassin, but, when found, was still living. He 
was brought to Cassville, and lived twenty -four 
hours. Eleven buckshot were lodged in his 
body. On the same evening that he was 
brought into Cassville, the pickets brought in 
two rebel deserters — conscripts from Arkansas. 
They said that they had traveled about five 
miles to the right of Keetsville, and had 
stopped to get something to eat, with a man 
whose name was Brewer. Being dressed in 
rebel style — coarse homespun — they passed 
for rebels. They told him they were going 
home on furlough to get their wives, who 
were living on Wilson creek, to take them 
to Arkansas, and then intended to return 
to their company. Brewer said that there 
were others home on furlough in that neigh- 
borhood, but that they did not intend to go 
back. "Why?" said the refugees. "Be- 
cause," said Brewer, " they are in better busi- 
ness — they are bushwhacking." The deserters 
further stated that, after they left Brewer's 
house, they met another secessionist, to whom 



EIGHTEEN MONTHS IN DIXIE. 239 

they told the same story. While talking with 
him, they saw some man cross the road ahead, 
clad in blue. They pretended to be greatly 
alarmed; but the man told them that they 
need have no fear, for he knew who he was. 
The next morning, the Major sent his son, who 
was captain of a company in the Sixth Mis- 
souri regiment, with a squad of men, to attend 
to Brewer and his associates. One of the de- 
serters was sent back as a guide. He was dis- 
tinctly told that, if he and his comrade were 
found to have lied, he would be shot on the 
spot. But he displayed no fear, and said he 
could take them to the very spot. The Major 
ordered his son to go first to Brewer's house, 
and shoot him, and every man he found lurk- 
ing about the premises. These orders were 
given in my presence. How they were exe- 
cuted, I will relate in the next chapter. 



240 THE YANKEE CONSCRIPT; OR, 



CHAPTER XIV. 

Prisoners — Brewer Shot — Threats — Obstinacy — 'Rough Usage 
— Dirt — Underground TelegrapJi — Offer of a Position as 
a Recruiting Officer — History of Colonel Pass — Leave 
Cassville, and go to Springfield — More Texan Refugees — 
Their Story — Wholesale Hanging — Extract from the 
Houston Telegraph — Springfield — Homeward Pound — 
Home, 

The Major's son and his squad returned in the 
evening, bringing with them a number of pris- 
oners. Among the prisoners was the man who 
had told the refugees that he knew the fellow 
who had crossed over the road on the day be- 
fore. They shot Brewer and another man 
whom they found lurking in the brush a short 
distance from Brewer's house. On the follow- 
ing morning, the Major went to interrogate the 
prisoners. I followed, to hear their statements. 
They all plead innocent, and denied that they 
were bushwhackers, and affirmed that they had 
no knowledge of any such men. The Major 
used them very roughly, in order to compel 
them to give information. He told them that 
he would give them a day to make up their 
minds, and that if they did not tell him, by 
sundown, who the bushwhackers were, he 



EIGHTEEN MONTHS IN DIXIE. 241 

would hang them as high as Haman, and 
then cut them down, and throw their bodies 
to the hogs. He made these threats in order 
to frighten them ; but they were not so easily 
frightened, and he accomplished nothing. He 
did not intend to hang them, and finally sent 
them to Springfield to work on the fortifica- 
tions. He told them, however, that, on the 
firing of the first gun by citizens, he would 
burn all the houses and fences within five 
miles, belonging to secessionists. On the even- 
ing of the same day, a regiment from Kansas 
encamped at Cassville. As they passed through 
Keetsville, on the next day, on their way to 
Arkansas, they burnt every house in the place. 

After the major had finished the examination 
of the prisoners, seeing that I was pleased with 
the way he did business, he stepped up to me 
and said: "Well, Fisher, I am not going to 
keep you here any longer, for I am satisfied of 
your loyalty. I have received no orders from 
General Schofield, but I will take it upon my- 
self to give you a pass as soon as you can get 
an opportunity to go to Springfield." 

During my stay at Cassville, the major kept 

out a scouting party every day to scour the 

country for bushwhackers. Hardly a day 

passed without some prisoners being brought 

16 



242 THE YANKEE CONSCRIPT; OR, 

in. On one of Captain Montgomery's trips 
down into the edge of Arkansas, he was in- 
formed of an old secessionist in the neighbor- 
hood, and paid him a visit. On reaching his 
house, about two o'clock, he found the old 
fellow in bed sleeping. The captain demanded 
his arms. He replied that he had none; but 
the captain stepped up to the bed, raised the 
bolster, and there lay a loaded pistol. He 
again demanded the old rebel's gun, but he said 
his son had it in the Confederate army. Just 
then one of the soldiers discovered a wiping 
stick, and took it down and handed it to the 
captain. He took the stick, and flailed the old 
sinner with it until he broke it, and then began 
to punch him with the piece that remained in 
his hand ; it was all to no purpose ; he still in- 
sisted that he had no gun except the one which 
his son had in the army. The captain tola him 
he lied ; that he had his gun hidden somewhere. 
He then ordered one of the men to go and get 
a rope off one of the horses, and said he would 
compel the old rebel to give up his gun, or 
hang him. He put the rope round his neck, 
led him out into the yard, threw the rope over 
the limb of a tree, and jerked him up. As soon 
as he found that the captain would hang him, 
he yelled out for them to let him down, and he 



EIGHTEEN MONTHS IN DIXIE. 243 

would tell where his gun was concealed. They 
did so; and he went into the house, raised a 
puncheon of the floor, and took out his gun, 
newly loaded, and as bright as a dollar. The 
captain took charge of it, and also brought the 
old man to Cassville and put him in among the 
rest of the prisoners. He was a hard looking 
customer. He was apparently about fifty years 
of age, and looked as bold and impudent as a 
lion. He was dressed in a butternut suit. The 
skirt of his coat reached to his knees. He wore 
a long thick gray beard, and from unmistakable 
indications, I think he brought a good many 
" body guards" along with him. They are very 
common, particularly among the rebel soldiers, 
and to describe all I have seen of such things, 
would be but to disgust my readers. 

The movements of our army were always 
known to the rebels in time to prepare for 
them. The "underground telegraph" did a 
flourishing business. Its operations were con- 
ducted by rebel women, something in this way: 
They bring pies, cakes and other articles into 
camp, and exchange with the soldiers for coffee. 
While effecting their exchange, they would 
obtain a knowledge of our contemplated move- 
ments in some way. The intelligence thus ob- 
tained would be carried to the first secession 



244 THE YANKEE CONSCRIPT ; OR, 

family ; by some of its female members to the 
next ; by some of them to the next, and so on, 
until, in an astonishingly short space of time,' it 
was known to the rebel generals. Time and 
again have they escaped defeat and capture in 
this way. 

During my stay in Cassville, the Provost 
Marshal repeatedly insisted on my going into 
Arkansas as a recruiting officer, telling me that 
I was the right kind of a man to go. I refused 
the offer, however, thinking I had already suf- 
fered enough at the hands of the rebels, without 
exposing myself to fresh dangers. 

On the morning of the 1st of November, I 
had an opportunity of going to Springfield. I 
spoke to the major about it, and he at once sent 
orders to the Provost Marshal to give me a 
pass. He did so, also directing the Provost 
Marshal at Springfield, Mr. Snitzler, to give me 
a pass to St. Louis. I arrived in Springfield 
on the 2d, and found lodgings at a place where 
two gentlemen, just from Texas, were boarding. 
Five of them, they said, had come through 
together — a father and his two sons and two 
neighbors. They left Texas soon after I did. 
Their story may be briefly told : While the 
conscript law was being enforced, they volun- 
teered to escape conscription, all of them being 



EIGHTEEN MONTHS IN DIXIE. 245 

liable except the father of the two boys. They 
volunteered, and were assigned to Kandolph's 
Brigade, stationed in the Choctaw Nation. 
Before volunteering, they had belonged to a 
secret society, organized to fi nd out the strength 
of the Union men in the State, after it had 
become dangerous for a Union man to utter his 
sentiments. Shortly after they volunteered, 
they organized in the brigade. The society in- 
creased in numbers rapidly, and very soon a 
large number of officers belonged to it. Their 
plan was, as soon as they got a majority of the 
brigade, to march for the Union lines. But a 
sad disappointment awaited them, and a terrible 
punishment was meted out to some of them. 
They were betrayed by a couple of men from 
Missouri, as was supposed. These men had but 
lately come into the brigade, and soon after 
joined the organization, just before the secret 
was divulged. Before they had any intimation 
of being betrayed, they were taken across Eed 
river to Sherman, Texas. Here the rebel au- 
thorities began a wholesale hanging. No man 
who was proved to belong to the organization 
was spared. The men, on their part, terrified 
at such merciless butchery, began to desert and 
scatter like wild buffaloes. My informant said 
they resided in Cook county, near Gainesville, 



246 THE YANKEE CONSCRIPT; OR, 

and as soon as they saw the savage intentions 
of the rebel authorities, they determined to 
reach their homes. 

On the same night, they crossed Eed river at 
the mouth of Fish creek. They kept on in a 
northward direction, and with the assistance of 
Indian guides, whom they procured at great 
expense, they finally succeeded in reaching the 
lines of the Union army. On the evening they 
left, the rebels hung thirty men in Sherman. 
For the benefit of any of my readers who may 
be disposed to discredit these statements, I will 
present an extract from the Houston Telegraph 
and copied into the Pittsburg Evening Chronicle, 
of Thursday, December 4th, 1862. The follow- 
ing is the article : 

u We have been permitted by the governor 
to look over the official accounts of the dis- 
covery of the secret Abolition organization in 
Northern Texas, and the quick justice meted 
out to the traitors. The organization appears 
to have been one of recent date. It purports to 
have been started in the North, and to embrace 
numbers of the Northern army in its fold. It 
also extends to several companies of the organ- 
ized militia of Northern Texas. How far it 
extends in that direction we are not prepared 
to say. The bulk of its membership in Texas 
is in Cook, Wise, Denton and Grayson counties. 
It. also reaches down to Austin. Its first pre- 



EIGHTEEN MONTHS IN DIXIE. 247 

tended object is to resist conscription. Its 
chief object is to keep up a spy system for the 
Northern army. It has a grip, a sign, and a 
password. In case a member divulges, he is to 
be hunted to the ends of the earth. In case of 
a draft of the militia to meet a Northern inva- 
sion, the members are to go along and desert 
when a battle comes on. The testimony elicited 
also points to an invasion of Texas, via Kansas. 
It also refers to a current invasion by way of 
Galveston, and that both armies are to meet in 
Austin. The organization has been found to 
extend to all classes of the community, clergy- 
men, professional men, farmers, &c. Among 
the number, we are pained to find the name of 
Dr. E. T. Lively, of Sherman, a member of the 
Masonic Grand Lodge of this State, and hereto- 
fore most highly esteemed, having enjoyed 
some of the highest offices in the body. The 
"whole substance and machinery of the organ- 
ization have been discovered. A jury of twelve 
men have been empannelled in each county, 
and the guilty parties are brought before it and 
the evidence taken. It is in every case so con- 
clusive, that there is no getting round it. 
Several of the guilty have, after condemnation, 
made a full confession, and, while under the 
gallows, declared that they deserved death. In 
Gainesville, twenty-two men have been hung. 
Trials are now going on in all the counties. 
The testimony goes to show that most of the 
initiated have joined the society since the 15th 
of September." 

After my escape, I learned a little of the 



248 



"history of Colonel Bass from a rebel physician, 
who had been captured at the battle of New 
Antonio. The physician was from Sherman, 
Texas. After learning who I was, and the 
regiment to which I belonged, he gave me the 
colonel's personal history, which is as follows : 

He was a lawyer by profession, and was a 
besotted drunkard, a scoundrel and a vagabond. 
So reduced was he in circumstances, that he 
had neither decent clothes nor money to get 
any. The citizens of Sherman, the doctor 
being one among the number, raised money 
and bought him a suit of clothes, and furnished 
him with money to carry him to Richmond and 
back. He got a commission from the President 
to raise a regiment of cavalry, and by going 
into a part of the country where he was not 
known, he accomplished the undertaking. 

Springfield is very well fortified with breast- 
works and intrenchments. A small force could 
hold it against a vastly superior force of the 
enemy. It is the largest town in south-western 
Missouri. It is built in an elevated situation 
on the Ozark mountains. It is to south-western 
Missouri what New York is to the United States. 

On Monday morning, the 3d, I called at the 
Provost Marshal's office and presented my pass. 
He gave me a pass to St. Louis, after I had 
taken the oath of allegiance, which is as follows : 



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249 



No. 4625. 

Age, 21. 

Height, 5 feet 8 inches. 

Eyes, Grey. 

Hair, Dark. 



250 



THE YANKEE CONSCRIPT. 251 

After a short delay, I reached Eolla on the 
evening of the 8th, a distance of one hundred 
and twenty miles from Springfield. On the 
following morning I took the cars for St. 
Louis, and arrived in that city at eight o'clock 
in the evening, a distance of one hundred and 
twenty miles. On Monday evening, the 10th, 
I left the city for my father's, and reached 
home the following evening — three days be- 
hind my letter. 

Home once more! The pleasure was suf- 
ficient to repay me for all my toils, dangers, 
and privations. I was once more among the 
scenes of my childhood and youth; I was 
among freemen. Long years had intervened 
since I bade farewell to the dear old home 
where lessons of liberty and loyalty had been 
so often taught. Little did I dream of what 
awaited me before I should again return to 
the paternal fireside. 

THE END. 




\ 



31^77-5 



